Crape myrtles

Crape myrtles characteristically displays multi-stemmed growth, forming an elegant, vase-like shape. Its bark is distinctive, exfoliating to reveal a smooth, mottled appearance, with a palette of grays, tans, and browns. During the blooming period, it produces lavish, showy flowers that cluster at the tips of its branches, ranging in color from pink to purple, measuring about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in diameter. The leaves of crape myrtles are simple, oval to oblong, with a lustrous green hue, and can grow up to 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) long. The foliage transitions to lovely shades of yellow, orange, or red in the autumn season.