Crape Myrtle Flowers

What good Southerner wouldn't give a shout-out to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)? This shrub graces parks, landscapes, and highways throughout the region with showy blooms from July to September. Coker's a fan, especially of dark-leaf cultivars like 'Delta Jazz' and 'Sequoyah.' Most varieties put on gorgeous fall color shows, too.