Larerstroemia indica (Crape myrtle)

Here is a very pretty small deciduous tree or shrub for all year round interst. The small elliptical dark green leaves usually turn rich purple-red in the autumn before falling. The bark scales off to reveal a very smooth reddish-brown trunk. As flowering is encouraged by hot, fairly humid conditions it follows that the U.K. climate is not going to provide ideal conditions. Should flowering occur it will be in late summer and the clusters of small flowers can appear over several weeks. Tolerant of urban pollution, the genus can be grown in any fertile, loose, well-drained soil. The best position would be sunny, sheltered, can with a south or south-west facing wall as a backdrop.