Crapemyrtle – Unpruned

Q: Everywhere I look there are crape myrtles that are regularly trimmed back in various manners. What would happen if one is just allowed to grow? How tall would it get?

A: It’s fine to leave crapemyrtles unpruned. As long as their mature height is not too big for the spot in which they are planted, crapemyrtles do not need yearly pruning at all. Their mature height depends on the variety. My ‘Natchez’ crapemyrtle is thirty feet tall but my ‘Pokomoke’ grows only a couple of feet high. I have links to two big lists of crapemyrtle sizes and flower color at http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/crapemyrtle-cultivars/.