Native Plants
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Wednesday - September 05, 2012
From: Sonora, CA
Region: California
Topic: Non-Natives, Trees
Title: Non native crape myrtle changing bloom colors in Sonora CA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a Red Rocket Crape Myrtle that was planted a little over a year ago. Last year the bloom was a beautiful deep red and this year it is a Mauvie pink. Is there something I can do to bring it back to its proper color?ANSWER:
To begin, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the growth, propagation and protection of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which those plants grow natively. Lagerstroemia indica (crapemyrtle) is native to Korea and China. The cultivar 'Red Rocket' is discussed in this article from Gardening 1,2,3 Getting a Handle on New Crapemyrtle, and credits Dr. Carl Whitcomb with doing extensive research developing the cultivar.
University of Florida Extension Red-Flowered Crape Myrtles has more information on this plant. Here also is a link to a page of pictures of Lagerstroemia indica 'Red Rocket'. If you run your cursor over a picture it will tell you the name of the cultivar. Some of them look mighty pink to me.
More Non-Natives Questions
Damage to non-native peach trees in Austin
January 02, 2010 - I have 3 peach trees, different varieties. In the past years it has just produced worm-eaten fruit, most of which falls to the ground before ripening. Can these trees be treated for a better crop th...
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Edible plants beginning with I, T, X and Z in Colorado
March 26, 2009 - My friend would like to know a fruit or vegetable that he would plant in his garden and come back yearly. The plants would have to start with the letters I,T,X, & Z. It has to be edible, of course.
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Non-native impatiens from Charlottesville VA
June 09, 2011 - Question about type of impatiens. My Alabama mother grew these and called them touch-me-not. They grow about 2 feet tall and blooms grow UNDER the leaf canopy up the stem. Colors I have are pale pink ...
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Non-native. Why are my potted Royal Empress trees dying?
June 22, 2009 - I have purchased several Royal Empress trees over the past two years. Why won't they grow? Some sprouted leaves and then died while in the pots I planted them in. While others, that are 2 years old ...
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Toxicity of non-native red-tip photinia to fish from Friendswood TX
April 10, 2013 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have seen several questions on Red Tip Photinia (RTP) concerning toxicity to horses, dogs and children. We recently lost over 100 gold fish and 6 large KOI in our man made back ...
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