Description: Quick growing, strikingly colorful, profusely flowering shrub, up to 8 m (26 ft); stem smooth, light brown; leaves elliptical to obovate, about 7 cm long (2.7 in); flowers 4 cm (1.5 in), born in large, terminal, showy inflorescences, in cultivars of red, pink, white, and various shades of red and pink, pink being most popular; among the longest blooming trees in existence, flowering almost year round; fruit a brown, oval or round capsule, about 1 cm diameter (0.4 in), splitting and releasing seeds when mature.

Plant Family: Belongs to the Lythraceae family, which includes the beautiful Queens Flower Tree (Lagerstroemia speciosa).

Natural Habitat: Grows well on coast, in full sunlight; likes moist, well-drained soil, but is drought tolerant; roots readily, and therefore is usually propagated by cutting, but can also be propagated by seed.

Origin and Distribution: Native of China and SE Asia; currently widely cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical world; will also thrive in warm-temperate regions, for example, some cultivars are grown as far north as Massachusetts in the US.

Uses: An outstanding and popular ornamental, frequently seen in private gardens and public spaces.

References:
Arlington A. James. An Illustrated Guide to Dominica’s Botanic Gardens. Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Dominica 2007
C.D. Adams. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Glasgow University Press 1972
Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson. Lagerstroemia indica: Crape Myrtle. Dept. of Environmental Horticulture, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville FL, Nov. 1993 (http://hort.ufl.edu)
Steve Christman. Lagerstroemia indica. Floridata.com. Tallahassee, Florida, 2003