Lagerstroemia SPECIOSA

Lagerstroemia SPECIOSA - Queen crape myrtle, Pride of India, Banaba, Lagerstroemia speciosa.

Lagerstroemia is a genus of deciduous shrubs and trees in the family Lythraceae, comprising about 50 species originating from South and Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania.

Representatives of the genus are valued for their beautiful paniculate inflorescences forming at the ends of shoots, and flaking smooth bark. The flowers with wavy petals of white, pink, violet, and purple colors are gathered in lush panicles.

Queen crape myrtle is an evergreen tree with flaking, bright brown bark. The leaves are oval, oblong-elliptic, gray-green above and the color of washed ink beneath. Upright open panicles carry numerous pink, mauve, purple, or white flowers 5 cm (2 in) wide. Flowering occurs in spring - early summer.

Seeds are sown before winter in open ground or in boxes under snow, as they require stratification. Seedlings emerge in the spring of the following year and are then transplanted into nursery beds. Plants usually flower in their second year; the first flowering is weak, and full selection is carried out in the second season.

For spring sowing, seeds are pre-frozen for 30-45 days. After that, they are sown into a loose substrate (peat and sand 1:1), embedded to a depth of 0.5 cm (0.2 in), and germinated at a temperature of 22-25 °C (72-77 °F). Seedlings appear within 15-25 days. The maximum germination period can exceed 45 days.

After the development of 2 true leaves, pricking out is carried out. Seedlings are grown until the following spring, if necessary with overwintering in a cool room.

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A sunny location is required for profuse flowering. The longer the plant stays under direct sunlight, the more lush its flowering will be. In the winter period, partial shade is recommended. An important feature is the requirement for stable air humidity of around 55-60%, which is achieved by regular morning and evening foliar misting.

The shrub is moisture-loving: during the spring-summer period, watering should be generous, reduced in autumn, and almost ceased in winter. However, during overwintering in a cool location (10-12 °C (50-54 °F)), watering is performed, but with special caution and only in a warmer room. Settled soft water is used.

The soil needs to be loose and well-drained. Commercially purchased universal potting substrates or a mixture of equal parts peat, sand, and turf soil are used. A drainage layer of fine expanded clay or gravel is formed at the bottom of the container. During the period of active growth and flowering, fertilizing is carried out every 2 weeks: first with complete fertilizers, then with formulations for flowering plants.

For winter, the plant is moved to a cool location. At temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F), most varieties freeze back. Leaves, if they remain, are recommended to be removed. Overwintering in a warm room leads to a loss of ornamental appeal and poor flowering.

Pruning is carried out in autumn after flowering. Shoots are shortened by one-third of their length, and weak and damaged branches are removed. Crown shaping is performed starting from 2 years of age. Such pruning promotes profuse flowering and shapes a compact bush.