Lagerstroemia fauriei 'Townhouse', Japanese Crape Myrtle

First identified on the Japanese island of Yakushima in 1956, this rare Crape Myrtle is truly a work of art. Beyond its gorgeous 25 ft umbrella canopy and its swaths of small, fragrant white flowers, it is the exfoliating bark that really steals the show. Townhouse begins painting its trunk in shades of cinnamon and mahogany at around 4 to 5 years. The color spectacle doesn’t stop there, as autumn brings glowing golden to orange leaves. This myrtle is also fantastically disease-resistant. To help this budding artist thrive, give it a bright spotlight in the sun and shower it with consistent praise (and summer water) for the first several years. As it gains confidence (and roots), you can reduce it to a few solid soaks in the hotter months.

Mature size: 25 ft T

Minimum temperature: -5° F