planted crape myrtles in the front yard of every house in the first phase of 93 homes here in Durham, NC. Different varieties and different colors. I transplanted mine (they transplant well because they are very shallow rooted) about 18 months ago when I redid my front yard and it is just about to bloom.
A year ago I put in another crape myrtle (Tuscarora) to replace a Chinese snow fringe tree which died. You can't kill crape myrtles! This one is in back of my house, as part of landscaping to give my courtyard privacy from the view of other houses, perpendicular to mine. There are also six azaleas in the grouping--to bloom in the spring--and two Virginians arborvitae to provide a year round green screen. The houses surround a view of a retention pond. Paired with this crape myrtle are two perennial hibiscus, which bloom all summer.
Close up of the crape myrtle flower
When the sun comes around this afternoon to the west--which will then be shining on this grouping-- I'll take another shot to show the entire bed up against my courtyard.
You might find this article on the history of crape myrtles interesting. https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/4220/A-History-of-the-Crepe-Myrtle/
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