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Crape Myrtle - Purple
The Purple Crape Myrtle, 'Lagerstroemia indica "Purpurea", is a handsome, summer-flowering, deciduous small tree or shrub. It is a favorite among Southern gardeners because of its beauty and low maintenance. The crape myrtle is valued mainly for its long period of striking summer flowers. Large clusters of purple flowers appear on the tips of new branches beginning in early summer and continue into fall. After flowers fade and fall from the tree, fruit remains in the form of small brown capsules. These fruits remain throughout the winter providing winter interest along with the attractive, exfoliating bark which peels away to expose a trunk which ranges in color from many handsome shades of brown to gray. The Purple Crape Myrtle is ideally suited for formal or informal design in the home landscape, street plantings and community plantings. It can be planted as a specimen or in groups, and looks attractive when underplanted with a ground cover. Crape myrtle leaves are oval and 1 to 2 inches long; they are bronze-colored when they first unfold in the spring and become yellow, orange or red before falling late in autumn. Crape Myrtle are easy to grow and if they are used for hedges, plant them 4 ot 5 feet apart. ... more
Texana Nuttall Oak The Texana Nuttall Oak tree, Quercus texana, also known as Spanish oak, Nuttall's oak, Texas red oak, Spotted Oak, Rock oak, and red river oak, is a large deciduous native tree of the red oak group. Fruits are oval acorns (to 1 1/2" long) with scaly cups. Dark green leaves (4-8" long) are deeply divided into 5-7 spiny, pointed lobes. Leaf shape is reminiscent of the closely related pin oaks and schumard oaks. Species name is in reference to the state of Texas where this oak was apparently first identified. Gray-brown bark, initially thin and smooth, later developes narrow scaly ridges. The wood is used as red oak lumber. The acorns are eaten by water fowl and many small mammals. |
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