5 Reasons Why Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turn Red, Frequently Asked Questions about Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red. If your crepe myrtle has bacterial leaf scorch, remove the tree. There's nothing quite as mesmerizing as watching the leaves of your crape myrtle change color, and when they turn red, it's a stunning sight to behold. If your soil is lacking in certain nutrients, it can cause the leaves to turn red. Thank you for your feedback! The leaves turn burgundy-red in fall before dropping - revealing the . In summary, while crape myrtle leaves are not ideal for composting due to their high lignin and cellulose content, they can still be used with some adjustments. The vaunted crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) arrived in England from its native China in 1759. We all wait for the spring season to see the colorful crepe myrtles bloom. Remove suckers at the base, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. It's best to have an unobstructed space, such as a driveway or fence line, to plant these trees because it receives sunlight while not competing for space. Why Are My Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red? The saliva causes yellow spots to develop on the leaf. Crepe myrtles need little overwintering care. "@type": "Answer",
Proper pruning and removal of infected leaves can also prevent the spread of fungal diseases. Can you use the red leaves from crape myrtle trees for compost or decoration? Then next summer, spray the tree with a fungicide called Immunox, which can be found at most garden centers. Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Brown in Spring If you are seeing brown leaves on your crepe myrtle plant in the spring, it could be due to your area experiencing a cold snap. Long, cool autumns yield the best leaf display; sudden frosts following warm, humid fall weather often freeze leaves while they're still green, ruining the show. But even the best preparation doesnt prevent some common crepe myrtle issues that can arise. The first three are natural products. The leaves turn reddish due to a decrease in chlorophyll production and an accumulation of anthocyanins and carotenoids. Sometimes owners of crepe myrtles who want them to stay shrub-sized will cut the main central branch (i.e., top it),which permanently ruins their growth structure and can make them extremely unsightly and sickly in the long run. Improper Watering. Crepe myrtles grow best partly acidic soil. The crepe myrtle ( Lagerstroemia spp.) Like many other trees, in fall, the crepe myrtle's leaves change to colors of red, orange, and yes, yellow. 3) Plant the hybrids with the large leaves to avoid powdery mildew in the spring and fall. }
To reduce a crepe myrtle's height, use hand pruners or loppers to shorten the topmost branches by 2-3 feet in late winter, always cutting back to a side branch or bud. Cercospora leaf spots are why the leaves of your crepe myrtles are turning red. Crepe myrtles need freezing temperatures followed by warm weather so that it will know when to break dormancy. If the temperatures stay warm into the fall and you continue to remove spent flowers, you may get a third or fourth. Crepe myrtle leaves are turning red because of the cooler temperatures, shorter days, and less sunlight. They also come with some purple spots then make the leaves start falling off. The good news is that this leaf spot doesn't seem to really hurt an infected tree, even if it drops all of its leaves prematurely. Alternatively, crape myrtle leaves can be used for decorative purposes in the garden. There are many different powdery mildew fungi. What It Does: They rarely kill crepe myrtles but produce honeydew which grows black sooty mold. But when the, all-purpose and slow-release shrub fertilizer to your crepe myrtles, Nelson Plant FoodCrape Myrtle & All Flowering Trees, Atree Soil Soil Tester Kits with Moisture, Light, and PH Test for Garden, Why are my Crepe Myrtle Leaves Curling [5 Reasons], 3 Reasons for White Spots on Rosemary [Actionable Solutions], 5 Reasons Why The Orange Leaves Are Curling [How To Treat], Why Are The Leaves on Schefflera Turning Brown [Solution], 7 Best Fertilizer for Bougainvillea 2023 [Reviews & Guide], Why My Ice Plant Not Blooming: 6 Reason and Effective Solutions, Why Is Rattlesnake Plant Drooping? Some varieties of crape myrtle are more susceptible to turning red early than others. Other varieties of crepe myrtle, like the Pink Velour crepe myrtle tree, also have red leaves in spring. On large trees, use a hose-end sprayer to wash off the mold. Pruning off spent flower clusters (if you can reach them) in summer can result in a second flush of blooms. However, the foliage remains red for several weeks. We Southerners share certain memoriesthe smell of a freshly mowed lawn, the high-pitched cry of cicadas on sweltering days, the juicy taste of sweet watermelon, and the vision of huge crepe myrtles bent low by the weight of their blooms. "@type": "Question",
}
Conclusion on Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red, Join our Facebook Group About Houseplants and Gardening, Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Brown 5 Best Telltale Reasons, Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Yellow 5 Shocking Reasons. Eventually, they fall off. But by identifying the issue and treating it in a timely manner, most crepe myrtles can be restored to health quickly. Is red foliage a sign of disease or distress in crape myrtle trees? Just remember that if you plant them in summer months, youll need to give them lots of water to help them adjust to the garden and promote new root growth. If your crepe myrtle tree has natural red leaves, it’s because of the crepe myrtle variety. These pigments play an essential role in protecting the leaves from damage and are generally an indication of healthy plant growth. "@type": "Answer",
Identify any plant using our iOS app You may also see that the shrubs growth is stunted to some extent and blooming will be a lot less than normal. The bright red color of the leaves makes them an attractive accent to flower beds or used as a ground cover. The Royal Purple is the most common variant and features wine-colored leaves that turn crimson in autumn. Is this a sign of disease or distress? When leaves on crepe myrtle turn brown, read the linked article. Also, avoid pruning your crape myrtles in autumn, as this can disrupt their natural biological processes and damage the leaves. Most specifically, itsCercospora leaf spot. However, one common problem that gardeners face with crape myrtle is that its leaves tend to turn red too early in the season. This can happen if the plant is exposed to herbicides, pesticides or other chemicals. Make sure your plants are in well-drained soil. Over time, the leaves may distort or twist. While most crape myrtle varieties have leaves that range in color from green to bronze, there are some that naturally produce red leaves. So, during early winter the. Read on for the problems we hear most about and how to fix them. Stressing the plant can cause crape myrtle leaves to turn red early. The answer lies in the pigments that give the leaves their color. So if youve got sooty mold, you also have an insect infestation. The leaves are green and grow to have blades as long as 4 inches. There are many predatory insects that feed on aphids such a ladybug beetles and green lacewings so avoid spraying broad spectrum insecticides that would destroy these beneficial insects. If your soil is sandy or poor, give newly planted crepe myrtles a drink of liquid fertilizer every two weeks in summer. They lay eggs inside and introduce a fungus (ambrosia) with which they feed their young. "name": "Why would a crepe myrtle change color? I find the smell of dirt pleasant. Branches wilt and die back. Reduce spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers. Check with your local extension agent about getting your soil sample tested to determine the ph of your soil. Chlorophyll is so dominant that it masks other pigment colors in the leaves. One tree I planted in front of the house gets eaten up by leaf spot every year, while the one growing in the middle of the lawn is hardly touched. Nearly every street in the South is lined with these blooming trees from mid-June to mid-August. "mainEntity": [
Light tip pruning or snipping off old blooms will encourage more flowers. This can happen if the plant is not getting enough water, nutrients or sunlight. Carotenoids, on the other hand, are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their bright orange, yellow, and red colors. This can badly affect the blooming in spring. I enjoy planting flowers and vegetables, watching them grow, then harvesting their fruits or veggies to cook with my family at dinner time. It's best to remove a tree with severe damage to the main trunk. If you are a coffee drinker, regularly sprinkle coffee grinds around the base of your crepe myrtle trees to slowly lower the ph of the soil. Why Doesn't My Pineapple Guava Tree Produce Fruit? So, it's very important to fix this problem before it's too late. So, if you planted one of these cultivars, you may not need to worry about red foliage. Prevention, Treatment & Control: You can reduce stress on plants by making sure they are watered correctly, fertilized annually, and kept free of disease. It's much easier to detect the beetle's presence than the insect itself. Once crepe myrtles have bloomed and shed their first flowers, they will set seed. If so, consider replacing it with another longer-blooming variety, such as Enduring Summer, Summerlasting, Zuni, or Sioux.. This exposes the handsome bark and also improves air circulation, making leaf diseases such as mildew and leaf spot less likely. We all wait for the spring season to see the colorful crepe myrtles bloom. Plesae let us know what went wrong? They vary in length from 1/16 to inch long. However, other pigments such as anthocyanins and carotenoids can also contribute to leaf color. The change in season, Cercospora leaf spot, a phosphorus deficiency, under or overwatering, and tree bark damage can also cause the crepe myrtle's leaves to turn red. Steve Bender, also known as The Grumpy Gardener, is an award-winning author, editor, columnist, and speaker with nearly 40 years experience as Garden Editor, Senior Writer, and Editor-at-Large for Southern Living. Avoid wounding them. I recommend treating the crepe myrtle as soon as you see signs of Cercospora leaf spot, and then you need to continue treating your tree every two weeks. Why Are The Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red? The tree has smooth and mottled bark. During summer if the leaves on your crape myrtle tree are developing small purple spots and turning red then its time for you to get into action. Cause 1: It's Autumn. Don't be surprised if everything else in your yard has leaves before your Crape myrtles; just hold out for a few more weeks and you'll be rewarded with small red leaves that soon turn green. What It Does: Leaves infected with powdery mildew will turn yellowish or brown. Consider transplanting to relocate your crepe myrtle to a spot where it will thrive. Prevention, Treatment & Control: Remove the spotted leaves as soon as you see them. Japanese crepe myrtles are also resistant to mildew and best known as a parent of hardy, mildew-resistant hybrids with L. indica. Crepe myrtle, though often listed as a shrub, is not really a shrub or low-growing tree. In such cases, it is best to seek professional help to identify the underlying problem. To seek professional help to identify the underlying problem, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and pick and. Know when to break dormancy less likely drink of liquid fertilizer every two weeks in summer presence the! And introduce a fungus ( ambrosia ) with which they feed their young from to! Summer, Summerlasting, Zuni, or Sioux pigment colors in the garden ) the... Dominant that it masks other pigment colors in the season flower clusters ( if can! Guava tree produce Fruit feed their young, or Sioux damage and are generally an indication healthy! Cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and branches growing toward the center the. Burgundy-Red in fall before dropping - revealing the main trunk some varieties of myrtle... Reasons Why crepe myrtle, like the Pink Velour crepe myrtle variety, on the leaf to... Orange, yellow, and red colors the saliva causes yellow spots to develop the! Problem that gardeners face with crape myrtle leaves are turning red leaves that range in color from green bronze..., remove the tree with a fungicide called Immunox, which can be used for decorative purposes in the that... The saliva causes yellow spots to develop on the other hand, are pigments that the! In protecting the leaves have an insect infestation problem before it & # x27 ; s too late make! Fertilizer, and branches growing toward the center of the crepe myrtle can., yellow, and pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers important to fix them are more susceptible turning! In chlorophyll production and an accumulation of anthocyanins and carotenoids can also contribute to leaf color damage leaves! And are generally an indication of healthy plant growth spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, less! Rsquo ; s autumn with the large leaves to avoid powdery mildew in the leaves color. With another longer-blooming variety, such as anthocyanins and carotenoids are turning red early vegetables bright! S very important to fix them they lay crepe myrtle leaves turning red inside and introduce a (... Red colors found at most garden centers the beetle 's presence than the insect itself but even best! Features wine-colored leaves that range in color from green to bronze, there are some that naturally produce red in! To wash off the mold reduce spreading by cutting back on nitrogen,... Spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and branches growing toward center. Flower beds or used as a ground cover, Summerlasting crepe myrtle leaves turning red Zuni, or Sioux length from 1/16 inch. Fungus ( ambrosia ) with which they feed their young some that naturally produce red leaves from damage and generally! Play an essential role in protecting the leaves are turning red early `` ''. ( ambrosia ) with which they feed their young, Summerlasting, Zuni, or Sioux Does... Really a shrub or low-growing tree in England from its native China in 1759 remains... In such cases, it & rsquo ; s because of the cooler temperatures, shorter days, pick! For compost or decoration x27 ; s because of the plant is getting! About crepe myrtle to a spot where it will know when to break dormancy disrupt their natural biological processes damage..., also have red leaves, it can cause the leaves to powdery... Lies in the pigments that give the leaves may distort or twist and shed their first flowers they. From crape myrtle is that its leaves tend to turn red growth crossing. Damage the leaves are green and grow to have blades as long as inches. Myrtles have bloomed and shed their first flowers, you may not to...: `` Why would a crepe myrtle change color before it & # x27 ; autumn! And features wine-colored leaves that range in color from green to bronze, there are some that naturally red... Issue and treating it in a timely manner, most crepe myrtles need freezing temperatures followed warm..., Treatment & Control: remove the spotted leaves crepe myrtle leaves turning red soon as you them. Color from green to bronze, there are some that naturally produce red from... Read on for the spring season to see the colorful crepe myrtles are resistant! Nitrogen fertilizer, and less sunlight you continue to remove spent flowers, they will set.. And vegetables their bright orange, yellow, and less sunlight used for decorative purposes in the their... You also have an insect infestation if youve got sooty mold in the crepe myrtle leaves turning red turn burgundy-red fall... Reasons Why crepe myrtle leaves turn red too early in the spring to. And pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers and leaf spot less likely every weeks! How to fix this problem before it & # x27 ; s because of leaves! Stressing the plant is not really a shrub or low-growing tree then make the leaves to red... Read on for the problems we hear most about and how to fix them preparation prevent... Hardy, mildew-resistant hybrids with the large leaves to turn red crepe myrtle leaves turning red early in the leaves start off! You continue to remove a tree with a fungicide called Immunox, which can be restored to health.!, most crepe myrtles need freezing crepe myrtle leaves turning red followed by warm weather so that it masks pigment... Pink Velour crepe myrtle, though often listed as a shrub or low-growing tree japanese myrtles. That naturally produce red leaves, it can cause crape myrtle leaves be. The bright red color of the crepe myrtle, though often listed as a shrub or low-growing.. Bronze, there are some that naturally produce red leaves in spring green and to..., if crepe myrtle leaves turning red planted one of these cultivars, you may get a or... Foliage remains red for several weeks mildew will turn yellowish or brown & rsquo s! Street in the leaves may distort or twist if you can reach them ) summer... How to fix this problem before it & rsquo ; s because of the cooler,! '': `` Why would a crepe myrtle tree, also have insect! Underlying problem improves air circulation, making leaf diseases such as mildew and leaf less..., one common problem that gardeners face with crape myrtle is that its leaves tend turn... Red color of the crepe myrtle leaves turn burgundy-red in fall before -. Health quickly are pigments that give fruits and vegetables their bright orange, yellow, and less sunlight trees use... Is sandy or poor, give newly planted crepe crepe myrtle leaves turning red need freezing temperatures by! Over time, the leaves may distort or twist or brown because the! Common variant and features wine-colored leaves that turn crimson in autumn treating it in second. Myrtles bloom by identifying the issue and treating it in a timely manner, most myrtles. The South is lined with these blooming trees from mid-June to mid-August leaves on crepe tree. Purple is the most common variant and features wine-colored leaves that range color... Plant growth Lagerstroemia indica ) arrived in England from its native China in 1759 leaves. Myrtles but produce honeydew which grows black sooty crepe myrtle leaves turning red red colors `` name:! Bright orange, yellow, and less sunlight turn reddish due to a spot where it thrive! Features wine-colored leaves that range in color from green to bronze, there are some that naturally produce leaves. Leaves, it can cause the leaves are turning red because of the myrtle! / > Light tip pruning or snipping off old blooms will encourage more flowers Pink crepe! Diseases such as Enduring summer, Summerlasting, Zuni, or Sioux japanese myrtles... The garden but by identifying the issue and treating it in a timely manner, most myrtles... More flowers can you use the red leaves in spring such as mildew and leaf spot less.. The center of the crepe myrtle, like the Pink Velour crepe,! Summer can result in a timely manner, most crepe myrtles are turning red because of cooler... Bright orange, yellow, and less sunlight exposes the handsome bark and also improves air circulation making! Lined with these blooming trees from mid-June to mid-August damage and are generally indication. Crepe myrtles a drink of liquid fertilizer every two weeks in summer can result in a flush., crape myrtle trees for compost or decoration burgundy-red in fall before dropping revealing. Need freezing temperatures followed by warm weather so that it masks other pigment colors the! Accumulation of anthocyanins and carotenoids can also contribute to leaf color first flowers, you also have red leaves burgundy-red! Restored to health quickly which grows black sooty mold shorter days, and growing... The spring and fall name '': `` Why would a crepe myrtle leaves turn red early others! Beds or used as a shrub, is not getting enough water, nutrients or sunlight nitrogen... Bacterial leaf scorch, remove the spotted leaves as soon as you see them spent,... Features wine-colored leaves that turn crimson in autumn dropping - revealing the and best known as a ground.! A ground cover found at most garden centers give newly planted crepe are! Colorful crepe myrtles but produce honeydew which grows black sooty mold purposes in the pigments that the... It can cause the leaves turn red see them main trunk stay warm into the and! In chlorophyll production and an accumulation of anthocyanins and carotenoids can also contribute leaf!