Lagerstroemia indica

Crepe Flower, Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

There are relations, personal, intimate as life itself, sweet as love, encompassing like the sky, deep like deep waters. A Friend walks at our side; a Lover is with us in our heart's secrecy; a Master of the Work and the Ordeal points our way; a Creator of things uses us as his instrument; we are in the arms of the eternal Mother.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga - I: The Master of the Work

The more you give yourself to the Divine the more He is with you, totally, constantly, at every minute, in all your thoughts, all your needs, and that there's no aspiration which does not receive an immediate answer; and you have the sense of a complete, constant intimacy, of a total nearness. It is as though you carried… as though the Divine were all the time with you; you walk and He walks with you, you sleep and He sleeps with you, you eat and He eats with you, you think and He thinks with you, you love and He is the love you have. But for this one must give himself entirely, totally, exclusively…

The Mother, Questions and Answers 1955: 20 July 1955

Colour

Flowers range from white, pink, and red to purple and lavender.

Varieties

Message of the Flower

Intimacy with the Divine

The Mother’s Comment

Complete surrender to the Divine and total receptivity to His influence are the conditions for this intimacy.

Colour

Various colours

Message of the Flower

Intimacy with the Divine in the Psychic

The Mother’s Comment

The natural state of the fully developed Psychic.

Colour

Lavender pink, yellow

Message of the Flower

Intimacy with the Divine in the Vital

The Mother’s Comment

Only a pure, calm, and desire-less vital can hope to enter this marvellous state.

Colour

Light purple, yellow

Message of the Flower

Intimacy with the Divine in the Physical

The Mother’s Comment

Is possible only for him who lives exclusively by the Divine and for the Divine.

Colour

Pinkish-red, yellow

Message of the Flower

Integral Intimacy with the Divine

The Mother’s Comment

The whole being vibrates only to the divine touch.

Colour

White, yellow

Family

Lythraceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Natchez', 'Muskogee', 'Tuscarora', 'Sioux', each with distinct flower colors, growth habits, and resistance to diseases.

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Small individual flowers, but they form large, showy clusters.

Flower Texture

Thin, papery.

Number of Petals

Typically 6 petals per flower.

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant, with some cultivars more fragrant than others.

Leaf Texture

Smooth, sometimes glossy.

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite or sub-opposite.

Leaf Color

Green, turning to yellow, orange, or red in autumn.

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Can be grown as a shrub or small to medium-sized tree, depending on pruning.

Life Cycle

Deciduous perennial.

Blooming Period

Summer to early fall.

Climate

Temperate to subtropical.

Water Requirements

Moderate; established plants have some drought tolerance.

Soil Type

Prefers well-drained, fertile soils but can adapt to various soil conditions.

Temperature Ranges

Thrives in warm climates; can survive winter temperatures down to about 0F (-18C) for some cultivars.

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun for best flowering.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to powdery mildew, aphids, and Japanese beetles, though disease-resistant cultivars are available.

Pollinators

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Habitat

Native to Asia (China, Korea, and Japan); widely cultivated in suitable climates worldwide.

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for pollinators; ornamental value in landscapes.

Ornamental

Widely planted for its beautiful flowers, attractive bark, and colorful foliage.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Landscaping, urban greening, and as living fences or screens.

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated.