Lagerstroemia , commonly known as
crape myrtle or
crepe myrtle, is a
genus of around 50 species of
deciduous and
evergreen trees and
shrubs native to the
Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of Oceania, cultivated in warmer climates around the world. It is a member of the
family Lythraceae, which are also known as the loosestrife family. The genus is named after the Swedish merchant Magnus von Lagerström, who supplied
Carl Linnaeus with plants he collected. These flowering trees are beautifully colored and are often planted both privately and commercially as ornamentals.
