PLANT OF THE WEEK
Botanical name: Lagerstoemia indica
Common name: Crepe myrtle
Height: 3-6m, spread: 3-6m
Form: A small round-headed tree
Leaves: Green above, paler green beneath, fine texture. Leaves begin to turn yellow and sometimes orange and red in late March. New foliage begins to appear in mid-September.
Bark: Mottled silvery-tan and pink, smooth.
Flowers: The colour varies from white through to pink and rose to mauve and crimson.
Fruit: Spherical fruit, 3-5mm diameter
Origin: China
Propagation: Seed and cuttings
Comments: This tree will tolerate a variety of soils. It is frost-sensitive when young. It requires full sun and blooms freely in hot, sunny locations but needs water at blooming, otherwise buds may drop or fail to open.
Annual pruning is desirable to encourage large blooms. Powdery mildew sometimes attacks foliage in humid conditions. Growth rate is medium.
This is a great ornamental small tree for sunny positions in Sunraysia and is a tough plant.
Where can I get it: Plantarium has a nice selection.
SIMPLE WATER FEATURES
You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to get the tranquil sound of water in your garden.
The simplistic look and feel of a little water feature in your yard will make you want to spend more time there.
Birds, butterflies and myriad small creatures will be attracted to this little body of water.
Examples: Convert a large, glazed pot/urn into a water feature by plugging the drain hole, waterproofing the inside and installing a small solar pump, and then filling with water.
Add some water plants and even some fish and, voila, there you have a simple water feature.
The Lilly Pilly shed in Red Cliffs has some perfect pots for water features.
