Crepe Myrtle Flowers

One of the best performers during hot, dry summers is crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.). "With so many to choose from, one can find the right color and size to best suit their garden," says Roethling. "It’s one of the last summer flowering trees to leaf out. In June, July, and August, large panicles burst—from white to many shades of red and purple." In fall, some leaves are orange, and the panicles go from flowers to small, rounded capsules. Crepe myrtle offers winter interest thanks to its cinnamon-brown bark that exfoliates and intensifies in color.