Lagerstroemia indica L.

Frost hardy, upright, deciduous tree or large shrub with peeling, grey and brown bark, oblong leaves, to 8cm long, and panicles, to 20cm long, of white, pink, red or purple flowers from summer to autumn.  To 8m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘In its native country it grows to the height of six feet, or more, acquires a stem the thickness of one’s arm, and produces flowers the size of the garden Clove [clove pink], which are very shewy, no wonder therefore that the natives should be in the practice of planting it about their houses and their gardens. […] According to Mr. Aiton, it was introduced to the Royal Garden at Kew, by Hugh, Duke of Northumberland, in 1759.’  [BM t.405/1798].

 Loddiges’ Botanical Cabinet figures the variety rosea: ‘We received it from our very kind friend Mr. Reeves, in 1825, with some other varieties of this elegant plant. […] It is deciduous, and by no means tender; it will even live out of doors against a wall, but is then usually killed to the ground, springing up every year afresh from the root.’  [LBC no.1765/1833].  FC p.38/1849.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.620/1843].  There are many trees in the gardens today.  Two plants of Lagerstroemia indica wee sent to the Sydney Botanic Garden on September 27th 1847 [RBGS AB].

Notes

Published Mar 11, 2009 - 04:59 PM | Last updated Mar 05, 2010 - 02:46 PM


illustrated are the oblong leaves and reddish-purple flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.405, 1798.

Lagerstroemia indica L. | BM t.405/1798 | BHL

More details about Lagerstroemia indica L.
Family Lythraceae
Category
Region of origin

China

Synonyms
Common Name

Crepe flower, Crepe myrtle

Name in the Camden Park Record

Lagerstroemia Indica 

Confidence level high