The leaves on a few varieties turn dark red, yellow or orange-red in the fall. The crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) There's a teeny chance it's supposed to look like that (for example, one called 'Prairie Lace' has deep pink blossoms edged in white). genus is a truly spectacular member of the loosestrife family, boasting a flowering season that may last up to 120 days. When a small amount of this herbicide from careless spraying or drift gets on a plant like crape myrtle it … In fact, if a Crepe Myrtle tree owner truly wanted to control Cercospora, he or she would need to spray the tree every 7 to 10 days with a fungicide, from early summer into the fall. Other flowers that you wouldn't normally think of change color too. | Web Design by ComSolutions. However, the leaves are turning yellow to red and then dropping off. with true red flowers are now widely available, thanks to new and dramatic improvements in crape myrtle flower color.As with other colors of crape myrtle, red crape myrtle varieties are free-flowering and will continue to produce flowers throughout summer and on into autumn. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Red is the rarest naturally occurring color among crepe myrtles. Shortly thereafter, I began noticing red crepe myrtles with white flowers. These bushes flourish in the southeastern United States, where they are very popular due to their ability to withstand the summer heat. Crepe Myrtles are among the toughest, most adaptable, and showiest plants that can be grown in the Texas landscape. So learn to love it. Photo 1264 is the east side of the tree, it’s in a little better shape. Photo 1265 is the west side and you can see more red leaves. Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew is one of the most common problems of crape myrtle, and it is caused by the fungus Erysiphe lagerstroemia. With their signature flowers that bloom in whites, pinks and reds, they are a beautiful sight to behold in southern Louisiana’s hot summer months. It seems to me to be too early for it to be getting fall colors since it's still close to 90 degrees here! Then we had that rainy weekend. Take a look at the crepe myrtle bloom above. If your crape myrtle's dark green leaves have turned white, your tree might be infected with mildew. Initially displaying dark spots, these leaves eventually turn yellow, orange or red and fall off your trees, well before the … The tree is about 15 - 20 years old and roughly 20' tall. Then in the fall the leaves turn unique shades of purple and red. The nursery tag says it should get up to 20'. We have a 30 foot crape myrtle in our Austin backyard (see photo) In the last three years, the leaves have become redder and the tree weeps. Leaves, Bark and Branches Most crape myrtles have dark green leaves, some tinged with red upon opening. If you are seeing brown leaves (or even partially brown leaves) on a crepe myrtle shrub, such as a Natchez crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia x Natchez), at the end of a dry summer, the problem could be due to drought. It shows itself in late summer. So if you suddenly spot leaves on crepe myrtle turning yellow, you’ll want to figure out quickly what is going on with this versatile plant. They may be white, yellow, red or brown. What causes our Crepe Myrtle tree leaves to turn red? Many plant disorders cause leaves to change color, but few cause them to turn black. Anybody want to buy 5,000 yards of storm shelter carpeting? The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Growing in zones 6 to 9, the dynamite crape myrtle puts on fiery red flowers. Unfortunately, some crape myrtle cultivars are susceptible to powdery mildew. However, the much more likely culprit is the weather. One is a Lagerstroemia x fauriei 'Arapaho' - red flowers and dark leaves. https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/crape-myrtle-leaf-spot.html The curling leaves are probably caused by lawn chemicals, probably a phenoxy herbicide. Dynamite Crape Myrtle. Hi Josephine - This is the first I've heard of this problem on the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle. ANSWER: This is Cercospora leaf spot due to all the rain. When the crepe myrtle tree has a heavy infestation of aphids, it causes a lot honeydew to accumulate on the tree. But they share one weird idiosyncrasy. It's late August, and none of the other Crape Myrtles in the neighborhood seem to be turning yet. The leaves turned a deep russet, then burgandy in the fall. And that's when people freak out and invest all their life savings in bomb shelter carpeting. If this is happening to your crepe myrtle trees, are they still healthy? provide head-turning allure to gardens in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. One of the most common trees that we get questions about this time of year are actually Crepe Myrtles! It was very pretty. While Cercospora is a known disease of Crepe Myrtle trees, you need not worry. Infected parts of the plant are usually distorted and stunted. But, have you ever noticed that your Crepe Myrtles’ leaves have black spots, or are changing colors or shedding before the autumn hits? And we all know just how much rain we get in the summer in Louisiana! Crepe myrtle leaves will start to fall and your tree will start to look pretty shabby. When the entire plant turns black and appears to be dirty, suspect a pest infestation. Red Crape Myrtle Varieties Introduction. Festooned in white, pink, orange, red or purple blooms in summer and brilliant leaves in fall, different varieties of crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) nor do our other crepe myrtle trees with pink blooms. For instance: This phlox in my garden bloomed deep pink during the heat. You may live with a healthy crepe myrtle in the garden … Q. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Yellow to Red. With so many Crepe Myrtles planted across the southeastern United States, they are a reliable, long-living tree, despite their tendency to become infected with Cercospora. Patches of white to grayish powdery growth occur on the surfaces of leaves, flowers and new shoots. Sometimes, certain aphid species cause galls (swelling of plant tissues) on crepe myrtle that is round or spindle-shaped. Some of the world's great mysteries may never be solved -- like how did the hosts of "Fox & Friends" ever graduate from high school? They resist mildew, tolerate heat and cold, bloom for a long time, produce few seeds, don't get too big (15 to 20 feet tall). At first, we thought that this was a reaction to the drought. My natchez crape myrtles are 2 months old and began growing leaves fantastic, yet at 2 months all of the leaves are turning orange/red and I'm sure they will soon fall off. But there is one mystery plaguing a lot of gardeners right now upon which Grumpy will shine the light of knowledge and understanding -- why crepe myrtles sometimes change color. Weird? Red foliage enhances desirability in some ornamental plants, but when green summer leaves turn red unexpectedly, color can be cause for concern. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. First, if you’ve noticed these telltale signs of Cercospora, the disease has already taken ahold of your tree. The older brown bark peels away to reveal bright beige bark underneath. The disease is most serious in shady, damp locations, especially where plants … When flowers open during cool, cloudy weather, instead of opening red, they open white. It's losing more leaves in the inner branches, near the trunk. If the leaves still retain some green coloring and the black portions are mainly along the edges, the crepe myrtle may be suffering from leaf scorch which is not a true disease but is caused by improper watering. Normal. Selections of crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) New Orleans, LA 70121 Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Brown in Summer . People love red. If you have a Crepe Myrtle that is displaying another issue, or other types of trees that you think may be diseased, we are happy to inspect them. 1 Comment It is the middle of the summer and your crepe myrtles leaves are starting to discolor. Third, heavy summer rain showers are known to cause more and more cases of Cercospora in Crepe Myrtle trees. I watched the color change in my neighborhood about a week ago. It will bloom for about 70 days. Sioux Crape Myrtles have very dark green leaves that create a radiant show of contrasting colors. Call Bayou Tree Service today at (504) 608-0712 in New Orleans, or in Baton Rouge (225) 414-4076. Weather affects the colors of many flowers, not just those of crepe myrtles. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) requires full sun, well-drained soils and it is drought tolerant. The flowers appear in clusters that can be up to 14-inches long. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. (225) 372-8585, © 2018-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Bayou Tree Service Inc. All rights reserved. At Bayou Tree Service, we are often contacted by concerned tree owners when they notice something different or “off” about their trees. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Are Turning Orange-Red. There is an Australian native crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to … And think about it. If you’re noticing black spots on the leaves of your Crepe Myrtles, your trees are experiencing a disease called Cercospora. I love Crape Myrtles! | Local Marketing by High Level Thinkers, New Orleans Ginkgo Biloba Trees Latest Victims of Rampant Disease, Why You Need Your Louisiana Live Oaks Pruned by an ISA-Certified Arborist This Winter, Buck Moth Caterpillar Spraying Pre-Registration Form. The dark-green leaves turn reddish-orange in the fall. A: Burned edges of leaves can be caused by several things including too much fertilizer, lack of water, root diseases or too much water. It appears to be properly planted. Foliage Curls, Turns Yellow shows Aphids Check crape myrtle stems and leaves for bunches of soft-bodied, pear-shaped, insects a little bigger than the head of a pin. Baton Rouge, LA 70807 Our Natchez Crape Myrtle Leaves are turning red-orange as they do in autumn each year, and they are beginning to drop off. Photo 1263 a closer look of the west side of the tree. I went out and checked the tree to see where the flare was. I do know that the leaves of this variety emerge red in the spring and then quickly turn to deep green. These galls are full of aphids in different stages of their life. There are a few Crapemyrtle cultivars with red leaves. . Pick one up and you'll notice it's covered with dark brown and blackish spots. Why is the bark is falling off my crepe myrtle? These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and heartfelt sentiments for your loved ones. Please see the 5 photos attached. They are developing brown spots and the leaves change from their natural green to yellow, orange and red. I suspect the problem is directly related to the amount of water your crape myrtle is receiving. The simple fact is, there’s really nothing feasible or worthwhile that you can do to prevent Cercospora from infecting your tree, but since it isn’t life threatening, it truly isn’t something to worry about. We are in the 94517 zip code. As for your poor crepe myrtle, it suffers from an affliction I've written about before called Cercospora leaf spot. Initially displaying dark spots, these leaves eventually turn yellow, orange or red and fall off your trees, well before the hot Louisiana temperatures have dropped and fall has begun. They also flaunt vivid red flowers. (504) 837-8733, 2982 Varsity St. Question From: m. sims - Tifton, Georgia, United States . That more than likely is not the problem. Q: Nancy, thank you so much. These are aphids, which suck sap from leaves and stems of … That’s where regular tree maintenance comes in! Crape myrtles are prized where they can be grown for their beautiful flowers, long blooming season, and attractive, interesting bark. . Phenoxy herbicides are frequently sprayed on lawns to control broadleaf weeds. Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are small trees with abundant, showy blossoms.But the lush green leaves help make this a favorite in gardens and landscapes in the southern United States. Photo 1262 is the west side of the tree. Leaves prematurely turn bright orange and red and then drop. I'll give you a deal. Photo 1261 is the base of the tree. Crepe Myrtles are among the most popular trees decorating homes, commercial, municipal and educational landscapes in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and throughout the southeastern United States. The same red and purple pigments behind similar colors in flowers, fruits and fall foliage show up in plants under stress. That's they way these new crepe myrtles are. These leaves tend to dry out and wilt. Our two Natchez white crepe myrtles planted two years ago are blooming. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. I planted two Crape Myrtle's this past fall. Many leaves fall during the summer, although some are the normal green. Nope. Along with their bright colorful bloom display during the summer months the leaves of the Crepe Myrtle also turn orange, red and yellow in the fall. Also, a late frost or cool weather could cause the leaves to start changing to what is typically their fall color: rich bronze-red to orange. The older and younger barks intertwine on the trunk together to create a marbled look. And so two fairly recent introductions, 'Dynamite' and 'Red Rocket', have exploded in popularity (pun intended). Don't you just love the way that "pink" daffodils and "yellow" magnolias never turn that color for you because the spring is too hot? In most instances, infected leaves develop a yellowish to orangey red coloration then fall … A lot of them are turning red. Thank you for the information. When the next flush of flowers opened, a white spot adorned nearly every petal. Trees that are affected with Cercospora can be expected to reach their normal lifespan of more than 50 years! Unpruned crepe myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks. After a month-and-a-half of brutally hot temps in the high-90's, we had a rainy, cloudy Saturday. There is nothing you can do, including fertilizing with uranium or sunbathing nude on Mercury, to change this. We live in Austin, Texas and all of our neighbors' established trees do not have this problem. If you’re noticing black spots on the leaves of your Crepe Myrtles, your trees are experiencing a disease called Cercospora. Red is the rarest naturally occurring color among crepe myrtles. Second, even though Cercospora may cause some unsightly discoloration of your Crepe Myrtle tree leaves, it is not a life-threatening disease. Consulting, pruning and fertilization on numerous historic Live Oaks Historic tree transplant, Consulting, pruning and fertilization on numerous historic Live Oaks as well as hundreds of younger trees, 264 Industrial Avenue © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. This tree that can grow up to 24-inches in a year reaches about 20 feet at maturity. In 1997 the Crepe Myrtle was named “The State Shrub Of Texas”. In autumn the mid-green leaves turn yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. Heavily infected flowers may fail to open. There is no reversing it, not even by spraying your trees. These trees bloom on new wood, which means that this season's growth makes the … That’s simply too much tree maintenance for most Crepe Myrtle owners, especially considering how many of these beauties can be found across our local landscape. 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