Viewers' Letters

Giant Crepe Myrtle

A few weeks ago on the program we showed a photograph of an enormous crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) growing in Donnybrook, Western Australia. It was about 10m (35') high! Since then we've received another photograph of a huge crepe myrtle, also around the 10m (35') mark, from Moorina in Queensland. Normally crepe myrtles grow as shrubs from 1-3m (3-10') tall up to small trees between 4-7m (12-20') tall.

These photographs really showcase the beauty of crepe myrtles when they are left unpruned and allowed to grow naturally. Many people prune their crepe myrtles severely each year in the mistaken belief that this makes them flower more. However, if crepe myrtles are never pruned they still flower prolifically. They also develop into gracefully branched trees, with lovely mottled bark in shades of pink, brown, silver and grey.

Rose with a difference

Richard Skinner of Conder in the ACT has sent us a photograph of a very unusual rose. It has another rosebud growing out of the middle of the flower. This was probably caused by an error in cell division when the original bud was forming.

Send us your photos!

If you have any interesting or unusual plants why not send in a photograph, we'd love to see them!

Copyright CTC Productions 2000