CRAPE MYRTLE
The crape myrtle is an ornamental shrub that sometimes reaches a height of eighteen to twenty feet. It is showy with clusters of fringed six-petaled flowers that range in color from pure white to a lovely pink and lavender. The bark is usually light gray with dark splotches. The crape-like blossoms adorn the shrub from late June through September and create a riot of color in Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg.
The shrub, belonging to the loosestrife family, is not a native to Virginia soil. It was introduced into Europe from China and India in 1759, and specimens or seeds were probably brought to America near the end of the eighteenth century.
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