Crape Myrtles normally bloom each summer without any help from us, so it can be very discouraging to discover your Crape isn’t producing flowers as it should. However, there are some common explanations to account for this bloom-barren behavior and help answer the question, “Why is my Crape Myrtle not blooming?”
Your Crape Myrtle may not bloom when it’s very young, as it normally takes at least two to three years after planting. Environmental and care-related issues like insufficient sunlight, improper pruning, and fertilizer or soil issues could also cause bloom problems. Pests may also cause trouble in some cases.
This article will discuss each of these possible culprits in more detail, plus any others that may impact your Crape Myrtle’s blooms this summer. By the time you finish reading, you should be well prepared to understand, prevent, and address any potential threats to your Crape Myrtle’s blooms all summer long.
Reason #1: Crape Myrtle is Too Young
A common question people ask after planting a new Crape Myrtle is, “Why is my young Crape Myrtle not blooming?” The simple answer is that it’s still too young.
Crape Myrtles don’t have to reach full maturity before they start blooming, but they also don’t normally produce flowers for the first few years. In most cases, your Crape Myrtle will need to establish its root system and grow for at least two to three years before you’ll see any blooms.
So, if you planted your Crape Myrtle within the last couple of years, don’t be discouraged when you don’t see an abundance of colorful blooms this summer. Just have a little patience and remember that once the flowers arrive, it will have been worth it.
Reason #2: Not Enough Sunlight
If you planted your Crape Myrtle in the shade, you might end up with a less-than-abundant showing of flowers come summertime. Sometimes the conditions may change as your Crape Myrtle gets bigger or if another tree or shrub is planted nearby.
The bottom line here is that Crape Myrtles need at least six (preferably eight) hours of full sun each day to thrive.
Don’t be fooled by their laid-back attitude and ability to grow in less-than-ideal conditions. Your Crape Myrtle may grow just fine, leaf out with lush green foliage, and shoot up more suckers than you care to deal with, but if it’s not getting enough sunshine, you won’t get flowers.
The same bodes true for a Crape Myrtle that flowers but not as abundantly as you’d like. Inadequate sunlight is one of the most common culprits for this problem. If you’ve inherited a mature Crape Myrtle, take a look at the sun it gets during different parts of the day. Sometimes, nearby homes and other buildings, larger trees, fences, or just the tree’s position in your landscape can lead to less sunlight getting through to your Crape than you may have realized.
Unfortunately, there’s not a good solution for blocked sunlight other than ensuring you choose a good, sunny spot when you plant a new Crape Myrtle, remove whatever is blocking the sun, or transplant the Crape as a last resort. If you decide to transplant your Crape Myrtle, be sure to read this article first to get step-by-step instructions for the best results.
Reason #3: Improper Pruning
Crape Myrtles typically don’t need to be pruned unless you’re trying to thin out the canopy to improve airflow or maintain the tree’s natural shape. Pruning the wrong way or at the wrong time can cause a lot of issues for your Crape Myrtle. In fact, there’s a name for pruning so bad it should be criminal: Crape Murder.
A Crape Myrtle barren of flowers could be due to pruning at the wrong time. If you prune your tree too late in the season, you could inadvertently cut away the new growth and prevent buds from forming.
Crape Myrtles bloom on new wood, meaning they grow their flowers on this year’s new growth. So, if you’re going to do any pruning, it should always be well before the new growth starts coming back in the spring.
Another issue could be caused by pruning either too late in the fall. If you start cutting away old growth just before the tree goes dormant, it could cause it to sprout new growth just in time for winter. Doing so could leave your Crape Myrtle more susceptible to cold and frost damage.
While it wouldn’t necessarily impact your blooms directly, it could cause added stress and damage for your tree, and Crape Myrtles bloom best when they’re happy and healthy.
Remember, less is more when you’re pruning Crape Myrtles. To be sure you’re doing the right amount of trimming at the right time, check out this article, which tells you everything you need to know about pruning your Crape Myrtles.
Reason #4: Too Much Fertilizer
Sometimes when our flowering shrubs and trees aren’t producing blooms, our first instinct is to fertilize. In this case, you should resist the temptation to fertilize your Crape Myrtle unless you’re certain it’s needed.
Excessive fertilizer can actually delay blooming or cause fewer blooms than normal, especially if there’s too much nitrogen in the soil. That’s because excessive nitrogen will cause your Crape Myrtle to grow foliage and leaves, often at the expense of blooms.
That’s why we always recommend testing your soil before you begin fertilizing or using a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer like a 10-10-10 if you’re dead set on applying some.
If you plant your Crape Myrtle in the middle of your lawn, be mindful of the fertilizer you use for the turf. Fertilizer for grass is normally high in nitrogen, so you may be inadvertently impacting your Crape when you feed your lawn.
If you use a landscaping company to fertilize your lawn, be sure to talk about your Crape Myrtle concerns. That’s also why it’s a good idea to have a mulched area around the base of your Crape Myrtle so there’s some space between the grass and your tree’s root ball.
Still, before you start putting additives and amendments in your soil, we recommend you read this article which discusses fertilizing Crape Myrtles in detail.
Reason #5: Improper Watering
We know Crape Myrtles aren’t usually picky when it comes to soil conditions, and they’re fairly drought-tolerant when they get older. However, that doesn’t mean water conditions won’t impact the tree in some way.
Crape Myrtles prefer moist but well-drained soil. If the area gets too soggy and stays overly saturated all the time, it may cause stress for the plant and impact the abundance of blooms.
On the flip side, drought can also cause your Crape Myrtle to have fewer flowers. If you’re experiencing a particularly hot, dry summer, you may need to increase your irrigation practices to ensure your Crape Myrtle gets enough water to produce blooms.
In some extremely dry conditions, your Crape Myrtle may even go into a semi-dormant state where it stops growing while it waits for some rainfall. You may notice your Crape Myrtle covered in buds for a while; then, after you get a rainstorm, it explodes with blooms. In that case, the tree was probably waiting on some additional moisture before flowering.
Reason #6: Diseases or Pest Problems
Most of the time, you probably won’t have a lot of noticeable pest problems with your Crape Myrtle. However, there are a couple of pesky critters and conditions that can cause problems for your flowers if they get out of control.
Powdery mildew is one of those issues. This condition is caused by the presence of a specific fungus that grows on your Crape Myrtle’s leaves, shoots, and blooms. Left unchecked, it can cause leaves to shrivel up and your flowers and blooms to die off.
The good news is that many of the Crape Myrtle varieties on the market today are resistant to this dreaded disease. Still, “resistant” doesn’t mean “immune,” and not all Crapes will be so lucky. Specifically, if you have a Carolina Beauty or Watermelon Red Crape Myrtle, it may be more vulnerable to powdery mildew damage.
In any case, powdery mildew is controllable and isn’t normally fatal for your plant. To learn more about how to rid your Crape Myrtle of powdery mildew and protect them from this vile condition, check out this article which discusses the topic in depth.
Aphids could also cause problems for your flowers, particularly if you’re dealing with a heavy infestation. Aphids are some of the most common pests you’ll find on Crape Myrtles, and their presence can cause all kinds of issues.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered when it comes to dealing with these pesky pests. Check out this article to learn how to rid your Crape Myrtles of aphids for good.
Reason #7: It’s Too Early
If you haven’t found any of the other problems we’ve discussed but your Crape Myrtle isn’t blooming yet, it could simply be that it’s too early. Depending on the variety, your Crape Myrtle may begin flowering as early as mid-May, or it could be late June.
The environmental conditions where you live can also impact when your Crape Myrtle starts blooming. So, in warmer areas, they could start flowering earlier than in regions where the cool weather lasts longer into spring.
In any case, remember that Crape Myrtles bloom on new wood, and they need warm, sunny conditions to flower. So, you’ll have to be patient and wait for the new growth to develop and for the time to be right before you get to enjoy the dazzling display.
Reason #8: Crape Myrtle Was Planted Too Deep
If you have a young Crape Myrtle that’s at least three years old and it’s still not showing signs of blooms, it may be due to improper planting. If you’ve noticed overall sluggish growth with your new tree, that’s another sign that you may be dealing with a deep root ball.
Crape Myrtle roots are shallow, and if you plant the root ball too deep into the soil, you may be putting more strain on the tree than it can handle. When you plant a new Crape, be sure to bury the root ball at the same depth it was at in the pot. Normally, that will mean making the top of the root ball nearly even with the top of the soil, maybe just an inch deeper.
This problem usually won’t resolve itself without you giving your Crape Myrtle a little help. In some cases, it could mean removing some of the dirt from around the base of the tree and raising the root ball closer to the surface.
Putting It All Together
If your Crape Myrtle isn’t blooming, it can be a very hopeless feeling. Whether you have a new tree or a mature Crape that’s been blooming for years, you’ll want to get to the bottom of the issue as quickly as possible. In most cases, blooming is closely tied to the tree’s overall health. If you keep your Crape Myrtle healthy and happy, it should bloom just fine every year.
Start with the most obvious issues like sunlight, water, and pruning problems, and work backward from there. If none of those are causing the lack of blooms, check the soil’s quality, perform a soil test, and consider potential pest problems and diseases.
Sometimes, your Crape Myrtle may just be running behind schedule, and you’ll end up with a normal amount of blooms a few weeks later. Patience is key when dealing with Crape Myrtles, so don’t be discouraged. Just keep providing proper care, and it should come around.
In some cases, you may just have an “off” season, and you’ll find that your Crape Myrtle is back to normal the following summer. So, don’t be alarmed unless it’s an ongoing problem lasting for more than one summer. Plus, if the issue was caused by pruning or fertilizing practices, your tree will likely need a season to recover and get back on track before it returns to its former blooming beauty.