Early Bird Lavender Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia hybrid ‘JD818’ PP22697

Plant Details

USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 7a-10a Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 5-6′

Width at Maturity: 4-5′

Spacing: 4′ apart for solid hedges; 8′ or more apart for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Arching, Bushy, Upright, Vase/Fountain Shape

Flower Color: Light Lavender

Flower Size: Medium size clusters

Flowering Period: May repeating through Summer!

Flower Type: Single flowers in clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: NA

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.0 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity, Insect

Description

If you love crape myrtle, you’re gonna love the Early Bird Lavender Crape Myrtle, which is one among a unique few semi-dwarf Crape Myrtles that starts blooming a month earlier in the season than other varieties, in May! Plant this beauty in your yard and you’ll be extending the crape myrtle flowering season an entire month. What’s more, in our gardens this one has exhibited excellent reblooming qualities repeating for up to 120 days during summer and we’ve seen no powdery mildew on the leaves.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, Early Bird Purple Crape Myrtle is an ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or in straight or staggered rows to form a colorful hedge in landscape and flowering shrub borders.

Suggested Spacing: 4 feet apart for solid hedges; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Early Bird Crape Myrtles are very easy to grow in most any average, moist but well-drained soil and full to mostly sun. Some shade is tolerated but too much shade results in diminished flowering. All varieties of Early Bird Crape Myrtles have shown very high resistance to powdery mildew. No pruning necessary though plants can be pruned to maintain more dense branching and heavier flowering.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Crape Myrtle shrubs.

How To Plant A Crape Myrtle Shrub Or Tree

How To Fertilize & Water A Crape Myrtle

How To Prune A Dwarf Crape Myrtle Shrub

Choosing The Right Crape Myrtle

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us

I was surprised at how quickly my Early Bird crepe myrtle arrived. When I opened the box the shrub was perfectly shaped and very healthy. Not only was Wilson Brothers the only place where I could find the plant but the condition was better than the way plants look at any of my local nurseries-even after having been shipped!———————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

As a first timer ordering a plant via the internet, I had a few concerns. Upon arrival the plant was in great shape, packaging was outstanding and it arrived a couple of days after the order was placed. We immediately ordered another plant because we we so impressed.————————————We are so glad yall are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

The shrubs arrived quickly. The packaging was impressive and the soil was moist. The shrubs looked very healthy! I was very pleased with the entire experience!—————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered 4 of these from Wilson Brothers and 4 from another garden center. The myrtles from WB arrived in great condition and were packaged better than their competitor. All of the plants were a bit dry – to be expected, but once watered and placed in the sun to acclimate are just doing fabulously! They are happy and I am happy 🙂 I will definitely order again from WB.
Thanks again!——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Plants came in pot, very well packaged. They are budding after only 1 week. Very healthy plants.———————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Received today, great shape. Thank you.———————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

I just received my crapes and they are beautiful and healthy! They look as if I went to a local nursery and chose the best! Thanks so much!————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

These have usually been hard to get a hold of. If you have any you know why. The perfect size and weeks of blooms. It’s also true to it’s name. They bloomed several weeks before my other crepes. One caveat, make sure that they aren’t getting excessive amounts of water. I have them in a bed with some dahlias that struggle with the heat and need extra water. I also had one in front of the sprinker head last yeat and couldn’t figure out why it was dying. Too much water. I swapped it out with my backup and placed an upright stone in front of the sprinkler and now both are doing well…..except when the dahlias need lots of water.
One comment on the shipping. I was skeptical about receiving larger plants by mail. Let me tell you these folks know what they are doing. I was amazed at the thought put into the design of the packaging. I would definitely order from them again, even larger plants.——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The 2 gallon Early Bird plants were in excellent shape and were packaged perfectly.