CRAPE MYRTLE MUSKOGEE

🌸 Crape Myrtle ‘Muskogee’ (Lagerstroemia × ‘Muskogee’)

🍃 General Description

Muskogee is a popular ornamental crape myrtle cultivar prized for its long blooming season, attractive bark, and vibrant fall foliage. It grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree and is widely planted in warm-climate landscapes across the U.S. South.

🌿 Growth & Size

• Mature Height: ~15–30 ft (4.5–9 m) depending on conditions and pruning.

• Mature Spread: ~10–25 ft (3–7.5 m).

• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast.

• Growth Habit: Upright, rounded or vase-shaped when trained as a small tree; multi-stemmed shrub if left untrained.

🌡️ USDA Hardiness (Growing) Zones

• Generally **best suited to USDA Zones 7–9 
  

What that means for you: In Alabama (Zones 8–9 in most areas), Muskogee should thrive outdoors with full sun and minimal winter protection. It’s not suitable for very cold climates where winter temperatures regularly drop below zone 7 lows.

☀️ Light, Soil & Water

Light:

• Requires full sun for best flowering — at least 6–8 hours of direct light daily.

Soil:

• Prefers well-drained soils (loam, clay, sandy) and adapts to a wide range including slightly acidic to neutral pH.

Watering:

• Moderate water needs when establishing; drought tolerant once established.