Will a Crepe Myrtle tree reseed?

Linda
by Linda
I found 2 little plants that I believe to be Crepe Myrtles. They are about 1' high. Has anyone had one reseed? There is a large Crepe Myrtle about 5' near where I found the little plants.
Thanks for all responses. ~Little Leaf~
  16 answers
  • Gayle Brewster Gayle Brewster on Nov 05, 2013
    Interesting...I have 1 crepe myrtle tree & 1 crepe myrtle bush & they have never reseeded. Seems I always have to buy a new plant. It's not impossible to reseed I am just sayin I have never seen this! Good luck!
  • Kathy Kathy on Nov 05, 2013
    mine spread like wild fire. i have them all over my yard, have even given some starter away. yes in deed they do spread.
  • Certain ones go crazy. The seeds last for years in the ground dormant because I have volunteers every year from the one I took out 5 years ago! I believe they also spread by runners as well. they take a few years to bloom.
  • Linda Linda on Nov 05, 2013
    Thanks Kathy. Maybe because I live in zone 7 with cold winters it's not as common. This is the first time I had any do this. ~Little Leaf~
  • Linda Linda on Nov 05, 2013
    Thanks C Renee. I'm really surprised. This is a new one on me. Thanks for the info. ~Little Leaf~
    • @Linda Yes I live in zone 7 as well. I finally let one grow where it came up this year after pulling them out for 5 years and it is already 2'tall with a span of 2 1/2' just this year when it came up this spring. So, i ripped out 4 or 5 others and let this one grow. I normally do not commit planticide but sometimes in life you just got to do it. LOL
  • Jamie Baker Jamie Baker on Nov 05, 2013
    We removed one 2-3 years ago and still get sprouts where it used to be. We also have a few pop up about 30 yards (and across the driveway) from where the big one was.
  • Linda Linda on Nov 05, 2013
    Thanks Gayle. I know. Who knew! This is new to me too. ~Little Leaf~
  • Linda Linda on Nov 05, 2013
    I'm wondering if they may have sprouted from the main roots of the parent tree. Maybe I should dig one up and see if it has it's own roots. Thanks Jamie. ~Little Leaf~
    • @Linda I find they do not transplant well. I gave many away and they did not make it~and it is a runner type tap root that grows sideways the length of the "trunk" and the branches. That is why I believe some are from runners.
  • Patricia Purdy Patricia Purdy on Nov 07, 2013
    I'm pretty sure the tree sends out runners so little seedlings pop up all over near the mother tree. I am in zone 7 and this is my experience
  • Linda Linda on Nov 07, 2013
    Thanks Patricia from zone 7. Do you know if the little plants are suckers attached to the root of the mother tree or are they on their roots like a seedling? I'll transplant them if they' re seperate plants. If not they get mowed down when I cut the grass. Linda B.
  • Pam Weldon Pam Weldon on Nov 07, 2013
    I have a number of Crepe Myrtles, and yes, I have had one to pop up about 5 feet away from a well established one.
  • Linda Linda on Nov 07, 2013
    Thanks Pam. I never had this happen before. The is one very large and about 20 years old.
  • CindyandGeorge Schaeffer CindyandGeorge Schaeffer on Nov 07, 2013
    There is a man on Hometalk with the last name "HUNT" he know every thing! I wish he would come on and say something about zone 10 where I live. I have 2 that just get tall and lanky and never do much of anything. They certainly don't re-seed, I wonder if it's from the heat here?
  • Linda Linda on Nov 08, 2013
    Thanks Cindy and George for your response. Calling Mr. Hunt. Where are you Mr. Hunt, we need your advise about Crape Myrtles. Do they reseed? What's the best care for them in different zones. I'm zone 7. Thanks. ~Little Leaf~
  • Patricia Purdy Patricia Purdy on Nov 08, 2013
    I think, not know for sure, that the new seedlings are attached to the mother tree. If I wanted to transplant the new tree, I would sever the root and wait awhile to see if it survived before transplanting it.
  • Lli28806610 Lli28806610 on Aug 05, 2017

    I have them coming up very often, but they are not true to the color of the closest bush. Especially red. Mine have been in the ground too long and I don't know the names any more. I moved 3 this spring and all are growing well and will bloom soon. Have no idea of color because I've been finding they don't stay true to the closest plant. I even have one 5' from a dark red, blooming light red and very pale pink on same bush. NO CLUE.

    Linda Zone 6