Cherokee Crape Myrtle for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on November 26,, 2022

Planting instructions

The Cherokee Crape Myrtle Tree should grow in an area with full sun, preferably where there is nutrient-rich acidic soil that is moderately moist with excellent drainage. Once you find an area that meets those conditions, you should dig a hole that is as deep as the plant’s root ball is tall and at least twice as wide. Place your Cherokee Crape Myrtle in the hole and backfill it while supplying plenty of water. After backfilling, cover the planting area with a layer of organic mulch, which will help maintain soil moisture.

Watering and nutrients

Your Cherokee Crape Myrtle will need the most water during its first few months of growth. During that time, you should water this plant about once per week or often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. After your Cherokee Crape Myrtle is well-established, you should give it water only when you notice that the first three inches of soil have dried out. The best way to fertilize this plant is to give it a feeding of all-purpose fertilizer once per year during the early spring.

Pollination

The long bloom period of the Cherokee Crape Myrtle gives pollinator insects plenty of opportunities to feed on this plant’s nectar while transferring pollen from one flower to another. Since the Cherokee Crape Myrtle is a self-fertile plant, pollination typically occurs quite easily. However, pollination is not something you’ll need to concern yourself with when caring for this plant since the capsule fruits of a Cherokee Crape Myrtle are neither commonly eaten nor do they hold significant ornamental value.

Pruning

The best time to prune a Cherokee Crape Myrtle is during the later winter and early spring, while this plant is exiting its dormant phase and returning to a period of active growth. Pruning early in the season also does not come with the risk of removing the season’s flower buds since this plant sets its buds on new wood. When pruning, it is crucial to use tools that are both sharp and sterile and to remove any limb that is dead, damaged or diseased.

Pests, diseases and animals

The cultivation of the Cherokee Crape Myrtle causes this plant to have excellent overall resistance to disease, especially when it receives proper care. Most notably, the Cherokee Crape Myrtle Tree rarely experiences powdery mildew—a moisture-related disease that can afflict many crape myrtles. However, it remains possible for this plant to experience pest infestations. Some of the most common pests that will harm your Cherokee Crape Myrtle are aphids, scale insects, ambrosia beetles and Japanese beetles.

Achieving maximum results

When your Cherokee Crape Myrtle is young, it is typically best to prune it so that it develops a few main stems. Once your tree is somewhat mature, you can remove much of the foliage that appears on the lower half of this plant, which will help reveal the attractive multi-stemmed habit. Selective pruning can also improve the blooms of this plant. During each bloom period, search for and remove any spent blooms, which will prompt this plant to produce more flowers.

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