Is Crepe Myrtle A Hardwood

Queen s crepe myrtle l.

Is crepe myrtle a hardwood.

Also gradually remove side branches up. On large shrubs and trees remove basal suckers twiggy growth crossing branches and branches growing toward the center of the plant. Crepe myrtle when i was a kid growing up in far north queensland we knew from kid to kid cultural knowledge that the very best wood to make shaghais out of surgical rubber sling shots were guava and crepe myrtle i still have mine it is a crepe myrtle corker with a tribal head whittled onto the main shaft. Trees with broad flat leaves as opposed to coniferous or needled trees.

Deciduous perennial plants which are normally leafless for some time during the year. Take cuttings from new growth of the season leaving three to four nodes per cutting and several leaves. June july and august are excellent times to root cuttings. Will it smoke or will it burn clean like a hardwood.

It works well has decent hardness and a nice white appearance when harvested from the smaller varieties. Speciosa grows only in the tropical south. The crepe myrtle is typically thought of as an ornamental shrub or small tree. It grows in warm climates like those in the south of europe and the united states.

The friend that helped me cut it up told me that it is ok to use it as firewood. Wood hardness varies among the hardwood species and some are actually softer than some softwoods. I lost a crepe myrtle in hurricane isaac. With its large colorful bunches of flowers bursting from graceful branches crape myrtle is a favorite among gardeners in the southeast of the u s.

Crape myrtle is easily propagated from semi hardwood cuttings taken during the growing season. Crepe myrtle care all crepe myrtles bloom on new wood and should be pruned in winter or early spring. The common garden plant while not large enough to produce lumber can produce some very nice hard and stiff wood for canes walking sticks and small turnings. The various strains of the crepe myrtle produce a variety of beautiful flowers.

I had never heard of this but i saved a few logs and figured i d give it a try. The tree itself has a very hard wood that can be used in craft applications. Has anybody ever heard of burning crepe myrtle in a fireplace. Originally imported from asia in the eighteenth century it thrives in zones 7 to 9 but will grow as far north as boston.