Every year I get several inquiries about why someone’s Crape Myrtle is not blooming. There are several conditions that might affect a Crape Myrtle’s bloom period. Read the causes below to help figure out why yours don’t bloom.
*Different varieties begin blooming at different times. Natchez (white) is usually one of the first to begin blooming. Some varieties may not begin blooming until late June.
*Crape Myrtles require at least 8 hours of direct sun to bloom. If your Crape Myrtle receives too much shade, it will not bloom.
*Insects such as aphids, and disease such as powdery mildew can affect blooming.
*Drought is one of the primary reasons Crape Myrtles may not bloom. Regular irrigation is required, and can be the difference between “thriving or surviving”. Crape Myrtles bloom on new growth, so if the tree is stressed and not growing, blooms will not form. Remember to water under the entire canopy and even beyond if your tree is established. Watering only at the base of the tree does not encourage a broad spreading root system to support the tree in drought.
*Too much Nitrogen applied to the lawn around your Crape Myrtle will force out a lot of vegetative growth, and inhibit blooming. Use a balanced fertilizer around your Crape Myrtles, such as NutriStar brand Crape Myrtle fertilizer.
*”Failure to Thrive” is usually caused by being planted too deep or planted in heavy soil that stays moist.
*Cooler than normal weather in the spring may delay the onset of blooms.
Hopefully, you have determined the cause of your Crape Myrtle’s lack of blooms, and can now remedy the situation. If your Crape Myrtle needs to be moved, transplanting in the winter when dormant will give the greatest success.