Crape (or “great”) myrtles are actually excellent trees — when we let them be trees. In Oklahoma, they’re often topped and butchered every year, kept low like a bush, a practice commonly called crape murder. That kind of pruning creates weak, ugly growth, fewer blooms, and constant maintenance problems. When crape myrtles are pruned properly and trained into a true tree form, they become one of the most beautiful ornamental trees we have — great structure, smooth bark, fall color, and a natural

Crapemyrtle (Crape Myrtle)

Natchez Crape Myrtle Tree