Flower Friday ~ Mysterious shrub
8Friday 07 August, 2015 by Uncle Spike
This small shrub is an interesting one. In winter it literally looks like a dead twig; in fact, next to the woodpile it looks so bad I’d probably put it in with the firewood, if I didn’t know different. But come summer…
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In June-July each summer, it has these exquisite little deep maroon coloured flower buds, and then they burst open to reveal these pink flowers.
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It’s a tough shrub too. Freezing down to -5C (23F) last winter didn’t seem to bother it, not does our 45C (113F) summers. I water it perhaps weekly, but it never seems to show any signs of distress.
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So who can identify this mysterious one then?
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That is a crepe myrtle. They are very popular in the American South because they bloom in the heat. The bark is smooth and interesting in the winter. They come in colors that start with white and end with the deep raspberry that yours is.
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They grow up to 20 feet high at maturity.
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Wow, thanks for that! Yes, they certainly love the heat.
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Interesting. It is either in invasive or native. Anytime I get something that seems really sturdy it turns out native, if it seems sturdy and takes over…well, you know.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
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Hope you find out … it’s a pretty one 🙂
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See other entries Joanne… mystery solved 🙂
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… and that would be why I had never seen one before … it thrives in heat! 🙂
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I hope someone knows what this tough little beauty is.
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