Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica & hybrids) is a beautiful and popular small street tree or shrub from China and the Indian subcontinent that can grow to about 15 feet with bright displays of vibrant, crinkled flowers that come in various colors and have a long summer bloom.
Lagerstroemia indica is different from L. speciosa, which is also called Crepe Myrtle or Banaba; whereas, L. indica is much smaller with different uses.
Crepe Myrtle is widely available as an ornamental tree, as there are about 15 hybrid cultivars available. They are available in a number of different colors, from white, pink, to purple and carmine. As a street tree, they are hardy to frost, not picky about soil type, but need good drainage, and can tolerate drought once established.
Crepe Myrtle has multiple uses beyond its medicinal applications. The wood of crepe myrtle, though not widely used in heavy construction, is sometimes employed in making small tools, furniture, and ornamental carvings due to its hardness and fine grain. The flowers and leaves are occasionally used in traditional dyeing processes, producing yellow to brown hues. Additionally, its vibrant flowers and attractive bark make it a popular choice in landscaping and horticulture, where it is planted for ornamental purposes in gardens and urban settings.
In traditional medicine, the main use of Crepe myrtle is for wound healing—the flowers can be applied as a poultice to cuts and wounds to enhance wound-healing. Traditionally, the stem bark is used to stop bleeding (styptic), as a stimulant, and also to reduce fever (febrifuge), while the bark, leaves and flowers are considered to be purgatives. The root is also used as an astringent and detoxifier. A decoction of the flowers also has a reported use for colds.
Through scientific investigation Crepe Myrtle has exhibited anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. In preclinical studies, the extract has shown potential in treating allergic disease, such as asthma, as it exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in an asthma model.
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*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
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