Early Bird™ White Crape Myrtle is a deciduous shrub or small tree with a attractive white blooms that last from May until the first frost. It is an early bird because it starts blooming much earlier than other crape myrtles. Plant this shrub in full sun in well-drained evenly moist soils. In cooler climates they may die back to the ground but in southern areas they can be planted as informal hedges as their branches remain erect through the winter. Use it as a specimen or plant in small groups, makes an excellent specimen with its showy flowers. Pruning should be completed in winter or early spring, as this plant blooms on new wood. A layer of organic mulch will help keep the plant retain moisture. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common crape myrtle pests and diseases. More information on Lagerstroemia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Hairs present
No
Flower color
White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower detail
White showy flowers appear on new wood. Too much fertilizer can lead to lush growth and less flowers.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Bark color
Dark Gray; Light Brown
Bark detail
Gray bark exfoliates revealing inner bark that is tan to beige
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Small Space
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Hedge; Small groups; Small Tree; Specimen
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Crapemyrtle Aphid; Crape Myrtle Pest Management Calendar; Crapemyrtle Flea Beetle; Pests of Crape Myrtle; Crapemyrtle Bark Scale