Giant Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa), also known as Queen’s Crape Myrtle, is a stunning deciduous tree from the Lythraceae family. Native to tropical southern Asia, it thrives in regions like India, Bangladesh, China, and the Philippines, and extends to parts of Australia. This hardy tree is particularly well-suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11, making it a favorite in warm climates.
Renowned for its bright pink to light purple blooms, Lagerstroemia speciosa is widely admired for both its beauty and resilience. It is especially common in India, where it flourishes in areas such as the Western Ghats, Assam, and West Bengal. The tree’s genus, Lagerstroemia, was first described by the famed botanist Carl Linnaeus, honoring Magnus von Lagerstroem, a Swedish naturalist who contributed valuable specimens for scientific study.
Whether referred to as the banabá plant, pride of India, or Queen’s Flower, this tree stands out for its elegance and adaptability, making it a valuable addition to tropical and subtropical landscapes.
| Common name | Giant Crape Myrtle, Queen’s Crape Myrtle |
| Botanical name | Lagerstroemia speciosa |
| Family | Lythraceae |
| Species | speciosa |
| Origin | China |
| Life cycle | Woody |
| Plant type | Tree |
| Hardiness zone | 10, 11 |
| Flowering period | Summer |
| Height | 4- 60 ft. |
| Flower color | Pink |
| Flower benefit | Showy |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Lagerstroemia speciosa (giant crepe-myrtle, Queen’s crepe-myrtle, banabá plant, or pride of India, or “Queen’s Flower” or “Jarul”) is a species of Lagerstroemia native to tropical southern Asia. It is a deciduous tree with bright pink to light purple flowers.
The name “Queen’s Flower” is derived from the specific epithet ‘reginae’ or ‘flosreginae’, which means “imperial or flower of the queen”. The tree bears beautiful attractive flowers in profusion in purple, lilac or pinkish-violet colours, and lasts for many months. Its timber is next only to teak in its strength. It is called Queen Crape myrtle as its flowers look like delicate crêpe paper.
The genus Lagerstroemia was first described by Carl Linnaeus. The name Lagerstroemia recognizes Magnus von Lagerstroem, a Swedish naturalist and a merchant who provided specimens from the East for Linnaeus.
It is grown in SouthEast Asia, China, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines and even extends to Australia. It is native to India particularly in the western ghats of India covering Belgaum, north and south Kanara, Malabar and Travancore and also in Assam and West Bengal.
It is a small to medium-sized to large tree growing to 15 meters (49 ft) tall, with an attractive symmetrical crown having a short bole or trunk with smooth, flaky light gray or cream-coloured bark. The leaves are simple, deciduous, oval to elliptic with stout petiole, 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) long and 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) broad, with an acute apex. The flowers are produced in erect panicles 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) long, each flower with six white to purple petals 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.38 in) long. It has simple leaves with glabrous, large, elliptic or oblong lanceolate.
The fruits are ellipsoid or sub-globose woody capsules. They are green at first, but later turn brown and finally black. The fruits hang on to the trees. It is easily raised through seeds. It grows best on rich deep alluvial loams and prefers warm, humid and moist soils and can withstand water logging.
Flowering occurs 3–5 years after planting and the main flowering season is April–June with a second flush in July–August. The fruits ripen in November–January. p. 198
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The pride of India like full sunlight and are slightly shade-tolerant. They require plenty of light to grow vigorously and bloom in large numbers. Please select a field with 6-8h of direct sunlight a day, such as an open space in a garden, and avoid the shade from tall fences, buildings and other trees. Excessive shading will not only lead to the pride of India not exuberant and less flowers, but also cause some diseases and pests on the leaves and buds, such as powdery mildew and sooty blotch.
Temperature
Pride of India, native to Asia, is widely distributed in the temperate to subtropical zones. It grows well in the warm and humid climates. If planted in the cold region, it’s prone to freeze to death in cold climates.
Watering
Native to tropical regions, pride of India thrives in environments with high humidity and consistent moisture. This species exhibits a preference for moderate hydration, balancing its water needs adeptly between drought resistance and a liking for dampness. For optimal health, pride of India should be watered once every two weeks. Typically grown outdoors due to its size and ornamental appeal, pride of India is an evergreen plant that requires careful attention to watering during its active growth cycles to ensure vibrant flowering.
Soil
The pride of India can tolerate different soil types and grow well in both calcareous and acid soil. The pH of most suitable soil for growth is 5.5-6.5. They like moist, fertile and well-drained sandy loam or loam. If the soil in the planting site is poor, it can be improved with compost or ordinary commercial fertilizers. If the soil is more viscous or sandy in texture, it can be adjusted with peat and rotten manure. Alkaline soil will cause leaves to turn yellow, organic fertilizers or garden compost can reduce the soil’s pH value, and a small amount of agricultural lime can increase the pH.
Fertilizing
For pride of India, use balanced nutrition fertilizers, optimal for lush growth and vibrant blooms. Apply a slow-release variety in early spring, at the onset of the growing season, and repeat every 6-8 weeks until late summer. Quantity varies with size and soil fertility, but generally, 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet is sufficient. Beneficially, fertilization supports vigorous growth, enhanced flowering, and robust health. Seasonal adjustments are crucial; reduce frequency in fall to prevent weak growth vulnerable to frost. Always water thoroughly post-application to avoid root burn. Novice or expert, employ a 10-10-10 or 8-8-8 NPK ratio for best results, ensuring pride of India receives essential nutrients.
Pruning
Pride of India blossoms in summer, therefore, it requires large-scale pruning during the dormancy period from winter to early spring. Pruning should be avoided in early autumn, as it will force the pride of India to grow rather than dormancy. Severe freezing damage in winter can cause plant death in case of incomplete dormancy.
For a lagerstroemia plant with a single trunk, one main trunk should be reserved, all lateral branches within 1.5 to 2 m from the ground should be trimmed off, and 3 branches on the trunk should be preserved as the main branches. For a lagerstroemia plant with multiple trunks, 3-5 robust branches should be reserved as the main trunks, the sprouts should be removed firstly, and the lateral branches of the lower half should be then removed for a tree form. Finally, the crowded or crossed branches in the crown and the branches that are too thin and too long should be trimmed to ensure good ventilation and light conditions in the center of the crown. The picture below shows a lagerstroemia plant with a single trunk.
In addition to the pruning for shaping, attention should also be paid to removing the withered and dead branches in every winter. The withered branches are generally weak and yellow or extremely dark brown. If it is uncertain whether a branch is dead or not, a small amount of bark can be peeled off to see if the inside of the branch is green. During the growing season, the sprouts in the lower part of the stem should be removed from time to time before flowering. New shoots that germinate in spring should not be pruned or truncated. After flowering in summer, the withered flowers (inflorescences) should be cut off in time to reduce the loss of nutrients and promote the germination of new branches and re-flowering.
Excessive topping should be avoided. Excessive pruning weakens the tree, causing the plant to grow a large number of tiny new branches. Although the plant is small and shrubby, dense branches and poor ventilation are easy to cause powdery mildew. In addition, over-pruned lagerstroemia plants will grow branches and leaves with a lot of nutrients, thus reducing flowering and affecting the ornamental effect. The picture below shows a lagerstroemia that has been over-pruned.
Propagation
Pride of India is a stunning tropical tree, renowned for its bountiful and vivid blooms. To propagate pride of India, stem cuttings are the optimal choice. Start with a healthy, disease-free branch, making a clean cut below a node. A rooting hormone can enhance success rates but isn’t mandatory. Plant the cutting in well-drained, fertile soil, ensuring humidity and warmth to encourage root development. Consistent moisture is crucial, yet over-watering must be avoided to prevent rot.
Transplanting
The optimal season for transplanting pride of India (S1) should ideally be spring, as this period promotes vigorous growth. This plant will thrive if it’s located in space with full sunlight. Remember, the soil should be well-drained. While transplanting, minimize root exposure to ensure plant stability.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas.
- Medicinal uses
In Vietnam, the plant’s young leaves are consumed as vegetables, and its old leaves and mature fruit are used in traditional medicine for reducing glucose in blood. The seeds have narcotic properties.
Giant Crape Myrtle’s seeds are narcotic, bark and leaves are purgative, roots are astringent, stimulant and febrifuge (fever removing). Decoction of leaves is used in diabetes. In Manipur, its fruit is used locally applied for apathy of the mouth
- Culinary uses
The leaves of the banabá and other parts are used widely in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan as a tea preparation.
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