lagerstroemia
Lagerstroemia L.
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Lagerstroemia includes trees and shrubs with flowers gathered into branching clusters at the ends of shoots or in leaf axils. Their crinkled petals narrow abruptly into slender stalk-like bases, giving the flowers their distinctive crepe-like texture. Rose, purple and white occur within the genus. Flora of China: Lagerstroemia
Botanical name
Lagerstroemia L. is an accepted genus in Lythraceae. This profile covers the genus, not only the widely cultivated crape myrtle, L. indica. Kew Plants of the World Online: Lagerstroemia
Recognizing the plant
Young stems may be round, four-angled or slightly winged, and their hair covering varies among species. Leaves can be nearly opposite or more irregularly alternate, with short stalks or almost none. The leathery floral cup may be smooth or strongly ribbed. Most species have two kinds of stamens: a smaller outer group with thicker filaments and larger anthers, and many inner stamens with finer filaments. Dry, hardened capsules retain the floral cup at their base and split into three to six valves, releasing numerous seeds with a wing along one side. Flora of China: Lagerstroemia
Native range
The genus is native across tropical and subtropical Asia into northern Australia. Its range includes the Indian subcontinent, China and Japan, Southeast Asian mainland and islands, New Guinea, Queensland and Western Australia. Kew Plants of the World Online: Lagerstroemia
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.