La Lagerstroemia indica it is one of those trees that actually look more like bushes. And this is not that it is bad, in fact, it is very good, as it means that it can be grown without problems in all types of gardens, regardless of their size, as well as in pots.
Its growth rate is not very fast, so will allow you to control its development in a very simple way. In addition, its wonderful flowers sprout from a very early age.
What is its origin and its characteristics?
Image sourced from Wikimedia/Atamari
Known as Jupiter tree, Jupiter, Indian lilac, southern lilac, or crape, this species it is a deciduous tree originally from Asia, specifically from China, Japan, Himalayas and China. It was described by Chrisiaan Hendrik Persoon and published in the Journal of Botany, British and Foreign, in 1928.
Grows to a maximum height of 15 meters, although the usual thing is that it does not exceed 8 meters. Its trunk, with smooth, pinkish-greyish and mottled bark, usually branches from a short height. The leaves are 2,5-7cm long, dark green-grey except in autumn when they turn orange before falling, and opposite.
Flowers bloom from summer to fall, in terminal panicles. They are hermaphrodites, pink, red or white. The fruit is a capsule of about 0,8-1,2 cm in diameter, brown when ripe.
Dwarf varieties
If you would like to have a specimen but you are worried about space, I recommend these varieties that are more like little trees and not so much like trees:
- Purple Dwarf: lavender flowers. It grows up to 1,2-1,8 meters.
- Pink ruffles: pink flowers. It grows up to 2 meters.
- Victor: red flowers. It grows up to 1,5-2 meters.
- Dwarf White: white flowers. It grows up to 4 meters.
What care do you need to live?
The Tree of Jupiter is a tree or small tree that must be abroad, in full sun or, if you live in a very hot area (such as the Mediterranean), in semi-shade. As I anticipated at the beginning, due to the size it reaches, you can plant it in the corner you prefer, and even have it in a pot.
But for it to have a good development it is very important that the soil or the substrate is fertile, with good drainage, and neutral or acid. If it is limestone, that is, if it has a pH greater than 6.5, its leaves will turn yellow due to the lack of iron.
Image sourced from Wikimedia/Didier descouens
If we talk about watering, should be moderate. It is not a plant that resists drought, but neither does waterlogging. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the soil or substrate slightly moist, watering 3 to 4 times a week in summer, and 1 or 2 times every seven days the rest of the year. Use rainwater or no lime.
Towards the end of winter you can prune it removing dry, diseased, weak or broken branches, and also trimming those that are getting too long in order to keep it in a rather compact style, with a rounded crown.
Finally, you should know that it is multiplied by seeds and cuttings in spring-summer, and that it resists frosts down to -18ºC.