James Burghardt
Family
Lythraceae
Botanical Name
Lagerstroemia indica 'Byer's Wonderful White'
Plant Common Name
Byer's Wonderful White Crapemyrtle, Crapemyrtle
General Description
A wonderful white-flowering crapemyrtle, 'Byer's Wonderful White' (also known as 'Alabama White' and 'Byars White') is a heat-loving, cold-hardy deciduous tree with unusually large flower clusters. It has a multi-stemmed base and an upright habit widening to a lovely broad rounded canopy. Its glossy leaves are dark green and turn shades of orange-red in the fall. In summer, it bears very large, loose panicles, or clusters, of crinkly, white flowers on practically every branch tip.
Crapemyrtle is tolerant of a wide range of well drained soils and grows best in hot, sunny locations. Powdery mildew and aphids can be problems with this cultivar. Choose 'Byer's Wonderful White' for a sunny small-yard specimen tree, along streets, in parking lot medians, or as a focal backdrop in mixed borders that require big and showy flower displays. In late winter, prune out dead branches and trim only branch tips. Refrain from practicing "hat-racking," which is decapitating the canopy. This harmful shortcut practiced by some landscapers forces the tree to sprout weak-wooded stems from the pruning wounds.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
11 - 6
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USDA Hardiness Zone
6 - 10
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
20'-25' / 6.1m - 7.6m
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Width
10'-15' / 3.0m - 4.6m
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
China, Korea
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White
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Fruit Color
Green, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Light Yellow, Yellow Green
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Bark Color
Tan, Sandy Brown, Sienna
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Bark Color Modifier
Multi-Color, Spotted/Mottled
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Exfoliating
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Usage
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
No
