L. fauriei, L. subcostata and L. limii have been used in breeding programs, and cultivars of L. indica × fauri… Heavy infestations of crape myrtle aphids can also cause trees to be covered with black sooty mold, but any crape myrtle that is covered with sooty mold should be carefully exa… Crape myrtle bark scale, Eriococcus lagerstroemiae, belongs to a special group of scale insects known as felt scales. L. speciosa, commonly called Queen's Crapemyrtle, has been popular as a flowering street tree in tropical areas, including South Florida. 17. Crapemyrtle aphids are small, fragile insects around 1 ⁄ 16 inch long. It is hardy in the US zones 7 to 9. Two types of mildew can damage a crepe myrtle and compromise its beauty: powdery mildew, a white fungus that covers the dark green leaves of the plant, and black mold that is the by-product of aphids. Crepe myrtles are susceptible to several diseases and pests, including: Powdery Mildew: The most common scourge of crape myrtles is powdery mildew – particularly during hot, humid days followed by cool, dewy nights. When choosing your crape myrtle, make sure to pay close attention to the plant’s mature height and width and if that fits the look you hope to achieve. CMBS might be able to overwinter in the adult female and egg life stages, and crawlers and later stage nymphs have been observed overwintering under the loose bark and in cracks and crevices of crapemyrtles in our area. Heavily infected leaves then turn yellow or brown and fall prematurely. These bushes flourish in the southeastern United States, where they are very popular due to their ability to withstand the summer heat. When crushed, these scales exude pink “blood”-like liquid. However, the Crape Myrtle does boast a higher resistance to pests and diseases than other flowering tree varieties, and when they are affected, the issues are easy to mediate quickly. Thus, the skin health can be maintained. These include mold and aphids. Our Crape Myrtles have been bred to be Cold Hardy and Disease Resistant. But the bottom line remains that this decorative practice of pollarding doesn't really harm crape myrtles. On new growth and in heavy infestations, the scales may be distributed more uniformly on the branch (Figs. Crape myrtle cultivars range from 18 inches to 40 feet tall and grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. Crape Myrtles are also naturally resistant to most garden variety pests. Check out this chart … There are two forms of crape myrtles: trees and strubs. When that plant makes it’s comeback, new growth will come from the ground leaving behind seemingly dead tops. These blotches frequently run together. It has very noticeable symptoms which include a white or grayish powdery coating on the leaf surface. 1). 4 through 6). Crape myrtle, also called crepe myrtle or loosestrife, is a group of roughly 50 tree and shrub cultivars in the genus Lagerstroemia. Uses, Benefits, Cures, Side Effects, Nutrients in Crepe Myrtle. 2), infected shoots may dry up and shrivel, severely affected buds will drop off (Fig. Lagerstroemia species are deciduous shrubs or trees with geographic origins in China, Japan, and other parts of southeast Asia. Mildew is a fungus; the white powder you see is made up of spores. Kingwood Garden Center customer, Ronny R, stopped by to find a solution for the unsightly residue on his crepe myrtle trees, which he believed to a fungus. All varieties are susceptible to attack by crape myrtle scales, although research is underway to see if some are more so than others. Contents inside crepe myrtle can help to protect skin’s health. Mildew thrives in warm, moist conditions. Most of the diseases of crepe myrtles are caused by pests. Crepe myrtles come in all different colors and heights, so find the one that's right for you. The crapemyrtle aphid, Sarucallis (Tinocallis) kahawaluokalani, is one of the most common pests of crapemyrtles. Cool, moist weather encourages these diseases, especially when new leaves are developing. The spores and mycelia of powdery mildew are sensitive to extremes of heat and sunlight. Powdery Mildew: Powdery Mildew is a tree fungus that coats the tree’s leaves, blocking the process of photosynthesis.. Every year trees and shrubs rely on … This step will save you backaches and heartaches in the future. One question we are always asked is: How fast do crape myrtles grow? The contents inside crepe myrtle can quickly heal skin diseases, and can also prevent skin from being exposed to free radicals. Crape myrtle bark scale is a messy insect pest that leaves behind a sticky honeydew residue in which black sooty mold will develop. Sooty mold alone is not a definite indication of CMBS, but if you also find white, felt-covered scales that bleed pink when punctured, you can be sure you have found crape myrtle bark scale. This can be a difficult pest to control and it may take m… For more information on crapemyrtles, contact your county Extension office. Learn more about proper pruning techniques in our article "Pruning Crapemyrtle." L. indica × L. faueri hybrids – These hybrids are completely resistant to powdery mildew and are more hardy than the common crape myrtle, so you can grow them in the zone 6 as well. The showy pink flowers have wrinkled petals like crepe paper. Crapemyrtle (Crape Myrtle) Lagerstroemia indica The common crapemyrtle is a deciduous, small to medium sized shrub or small tree with a variable, moderately dense habit, often multi-stemmed form. In one year, there could be at least two generations of CMBS. Older leaves are less likely to be affected, but can become infected under conditions favorable for the disease. Heavy pruning, especially slashing the tops off, leads to weaker growth and flowering as well as stress, thus more insect pests and diseases. Crape myrtles need plenty of sun and air circulation to help fight this disease. It can completely cover and severely damage new plant growth. Crepe myrtles have a few diseases and insects they are prone to. Various leaf spot fungi cause yellow, brown or black dead blotches on crape myrtle leaves. Have confidence that any plants you order from us are ALWAYS disease and insect free. In Florida the leaf spot disease was severe in 1976, especially on the pink-flowering variety ‘Near East’. These common pests must be washed off the plant using a garden hose and an environmentally-friendly insecticide mixed with water. Treat with a general fungicide. Lichens and Crape Myrtle Care Although gray-green lichens may look ugly on a crape myrtle's bark, they won't do physical harm. Powdery mildew occurs most often on young, actively growing plant tissues (Fig. Pests and Diseases for Crape Myrtles. The surface of an infected plant has a powder-like appearance (Fig. Up close, CMBS is white t… Overcome … Selecting the right crape myrtle plant for your landscaping needs means you have to take more than just the color into consideration. Crapemyrtle Diseases There are two serious and common fungal diseases on crapemyrtle: powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemiae) and Cercospora leaf spot. You will notice that the flower will not open to its beauty and the growth of the tree is stunned. It is best to prevent the growth of mildew, but if your tree is already infected, following these steps will help you restore it to its former beauty. L. indica has been cultivated as an ornamental for centuries and was introduced to the southern United States over one hundred and fifty years ago. List of various diseases cured by Crepe Myrtle. A: After looking at your photos and examining the samples of your leaves, I believe the spots are caused by a fungus called Cercospora lythracearum as it is the most common fungal leaf spot on Lagerstroemia indica (crape myrtles). Our disease resistantvarieties include the Natchez, Sioux, Tonto, Dynamite, Red Rocket and more. The crape myrtle aphid (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani) is the most common crape myrtle pest. Unfortunately, some crape myrtle cultivars are susceptible to powdery mildew. The female’s body shrinks as eggs are pro- duced. Breeding programs over the last 30 years have produced superior forms with a wide range of plant sizes and habits; improved flowering, new flower colors, ornamental bark, ornamental foliage, and disease resistance; and increased vigor. Above is a well-pruned mature crape myrtle, with lower limbs thinned and the upper and side branches cut back just a little for a more compact yet still natural effect. Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to identify. This tiny insect feeds on the sap of the crape myrtle and produces a liquid called honeydew, that can often be observed dripping from crape myrtles in the spring. They are pale yellowish-green with black spots on the abdomen. Powdery mildewThis is one of the most common crepe myrtle tree diseases that affect the crepe myrtle trees. Want to see more Southern Living videos? Remove any poorly placed limbs as needed, but avoid what is commonly known as "crape murder." Adult females are felt-like white or gray encrustations that stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. However, like all plants, Crape Myrtles can experience an occasional insect or mildew problem. Though any tall variety can make a tree, at some point one winter will be so harsh that the crape myrtle will die back to the ground. If you are seeing brown leaves (or even partially brown leaves) on a crepe myrtle shrub, such as a Natchez crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia x Natchez), at the end of a dry summer, the problem could be due to drought. L. indica – Also known as the common crape myrtle, this species is the most popular among crape myrtles. Names of Crepe Myrtle in various languages of the world are also given. In Arkansas, the more serious disease is leaf spot which can cause susceptible varieties to be nearly defoliated by late August. As with most insects, there are several life stages and the appearance of CMBS changes with the stages. These symptoms are only seen on the leaf but if the tree gets this crepe myrtle disease then the flowers and the growth of this crepe myrtle are the affected. Crepe Myrtle Diseases & Insects. Adult females produce a white, felt-like sac around their bodies and lay approximately 100 to 300 pink eggs inside this sac. Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia species) has become a dominant landscape plant in North and Central Florida and throughout the South. Improving air circulation within your crepe myrtle and applying chemical controls can eliminate mildew problems and restore the plant's beauty. Most crepe myrtles in gardens are selections of L. indica or hybrids of that specie… 3), and badly infected leave… It is one of the only scales known to infest crape myrtles. The crepe myrtles are among the most satisfactory of plants for the South: showy summer flowers, attractive bark, and (in many cases) brilliant fall color make them year-round garden performers. It was originally described from crapemyrtle in Hawaii and named for the queen, Kahawaluokalani! Heavy infestations of crape myrtle bark scale are easy to spot and identify. 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