Cool ! A Crepe Myrtle

[Dazed_Lily]

Ever since I moved in, I wondered what in the world that knarled root was on the side of the house. It was like something had been chopped down. I assumed it was a 'bad' shrub--something icky and undesirable. Tonight I glanced over and saw HOT PINK flowers growing on 8 inch 'branches' poking out of that knarled root. I am very sure it is crepe myrtle. I have no idea why it was treated so badly. What a nice surprise !:)

[Ann B.]

Cathy,

Are you saying that the tree died to the ground (herbaceous), then shot up new sprouts? I had heard of that before in colder climates. Perhaps, that means if you can manage to protect the roots, you will have those pretty blooms come up unexpectantly like that....

I do know that they can be propagated from roots and do that willingly here when the roots are severed by digging up a sucker.

COOOOOOL!:cool:

[Dazed_Lily]

Well, all I ever saw was a loop-like piece of wood that started in the ground, looped up and back into the ground--just like a simple sewing stitch. That 'knot' sat there since last October and suddenly has sprung twigs with leaves and flowers. I can try to take a photo.

[Ann B.]

Cathy,

I know exactly what you are talking about! I have quite a few of those from downed trees and sprouts are growing like crazy from the roots. In particular, these are pear tree roots and fig tree roots, huge roots-- at least 2" in diameter, suspended in air for several feet and sprouting.

Plants do strange things when they are determined to live.

I hope you can get a picture of it.

Crepe myrtles go dormant in the winter, but they normally just lose their leaves here. If you could protect soem of these sprouts and keep them from freezing, you would have bigger and better blooms next year.

But, hey! Why don't you try to take a cutting and overwinter it in your garage? Wouldn't that be a hoot if the cutting rooted and survived?

I simply think that yours blooming is awesome!!!!