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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

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Monday - August 07, 2006

From: Houston, TX
Region: Other
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Non-native Crape Myrtle
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

My local nursery saw the flower and said I have a crape myrtle...is this the common name or botanical name?

ANSWER:

Crape myrtle is the common name. The botanical name is Lagerstroemia indica. It is not native to North America, but has been introduced from Asia and is now naturalized here. It can occur in a variety of colors.
 

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