Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit III’ is Pink Velour® . She was originally marked as Royal Velvet.
She is the one of clearest pink crapemyrtles to reach the market. But her best cover girl feature is not her “pretty girl pink” flowers but the way they are partnered with her dark skinned foliage. The color dance lasts for weeks, leaving even the audience breathless!
Her thick glossy foliage, sets the stage for her to model Nature’s rich color play. She begins the season slow, a moody garnet that speeds up with the rising heat to a upbeat plum hued green, then to a “let’s party” rumba of copper marmalade. And if the crowd begs for more her complexion will flush with a cherry glow that fades slowly like burning embers in the evening light.
Don’t get me wrong, her flirty girly hot pink blossoms are fun-if pink is your color! They stretch so far past her finger tip branches it looks more like she has a mani, with an Opi’s glam color!
(You know, the good polish that lasts for weeks! ) She is the type of showy that catches your eye at a distance and then holds it till you’re close enough to whisper her name. To some she is absolutly perfect!
But, she has more- she adds movement to the landscape. She sways in a gentle breeze and plays with tiny air currents. Sometimes when she shakes and bounces her pom pom flower clusters, it is as if she is laughing because little wind gusts are tickling her knees. Oh, she is so sweet!
My favorite time with her is when the air is almost still. It looks like she is gazing at the clouds, pondering them like they are her own design. She must have the artist's hand, that pauses momentarily in mid-air and then begins again. Is she drawing a masterpeice, sketching and erasing on an invisible canvas? Yes, and she forces me to see with new eyes the sky, the birds, the glory of the day!
Pink Velour® is easy to make happy, she just needs average soil, minimum water once she is established, all day sun and a little space! If she is left un-pruned, in St. Louis, she will quickly reach 8-12’ tall especially if we have a few consecutive mild winters.
Care Factor Rating: 2 Trim off all dead branches in late spring as new growth appears. Following a mild winter, there may be little dieback. If that is the case a gentle pruning to reduce flowering height and general shape is all that is necessary. All flowering occurs on new wood!
Over crowding can make her and the space feel a little clumsy. She is very resistant to mildew. Prune her only for general shaping. A second light trim can reduce her seasonal blooming height but excessive pruning can lead to stunting over time and her vigor can be affected. Flowering and foliage color is best in full sun.
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