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 'Chickasaw'
The U.S. National Arboretum announces the release of 'Chickasaw', the first in a series of miniature hybrid crapemyrtles. This small, densely branched, compact plant is the answer to a gardener¹s dream. Striking clusters of glossy, dark red buds open to lavender flowers in mid-summer, crowning the glossy, dark green, disease-resistant foliage. A delightful plant for display in containers, 'Chickasaw' is also the perfect choice for use as a summer-flowering perennial or as a specimen in the rock garden. 
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| 'Chickasaw'
Hybrid Crapemyrtle
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| Botanical Name: | Lagerstroemia (indica x fauriei) 'Chickasaw'
(NA 62919; PI 596408) |
| Family: | Lythraceae |
| Hardiness: | Reliably top hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone 7b; root hardy to U.S.D.A. Zones 6 |
| Development: | 'Chickasaw' was produced and selected by Dr. Donald Egolf from a complex pedigree involving five original plants and their progeny intercrossed for five generations. Approximately one-third of its genotype was contributed by L. fauriei. The first cross in this pedigree was made in 1967, and the final cross that resulted in 'Chickasaw' was made in 1989. Released 1997. |
| Significance: | 'Chickasaw' is the first true miniature Lagerstroemia indica x L. fauriei hybrid, reaching a height of 20 inches and a width of 26 inches after seven years in container culture. It is highly tolerant to powdery mildew. |
| Description: | Height and Width: 20 inches tall
and 26 inches wide after 7 years in container culture.
Habit: Deciduous, densely branched, dwarf compact mound. Foliage: Fine-textured, glossy, dark green foliage, highly tolerant to powdery mildew. Flowers: Pinkish lavender flowers in mid to late summer, approximately two weeks after flowers appear on standard hybrid forms of crapemyrtle; persist until frost. |
| Culture: | 'Chickasaw' is adaptable to the same cultural conditions as other crapemyrtle hybrid cultivars. Thrives in full sun in a good heavy loam soil with a pH of 5.0-6.5. |
| Propagation: | Roots easily from softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings taken before flowering. Rooting occurs in 2-3 weeks under mist, 1000 ppm IBA. |
| Landscape Use: | Small foundation or border plants, mass plantings in beds in parks and public areas, specimen plants in rock gardens or terraces, or patio container plants. |
| Availability: | Rooted cuttings were distributed to wholesale nurseries in 1997. Available to retail nurseries in 1999-2000. |
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U.S. National Arboretum Plant Introduction
U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20002 |
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Last Updated January 14, 2002
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