06/05/2026
Did you know that Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) has a HIGH potential for invasiveness in the Southeastern United States?
This one’s a hard pill to swallow for many Southerners, but it’s time we talk about Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Everyone loves it for its long-lasting summer blooms, but this favorite landscape tree is now showing signs of becoming invasive in parts of the Southeastern U.S.....especially in Lower Alabama’s increasingly tropical climate.
Originally introduced from Asia in the 1700s, Crepe Myrtle was appreciated for its beauty, drought tolerance, and easy growth. But those same “virtues” ARE THE PROBLEM. It produces prolific seeds, escapes cultivation, and is now being found along roadsides, in natural areas, and encroaching on disturbed habitats where native species should be growing.
❓Why Is Crepe Myrtle Becoming a Problem?
~Prolific seed production allows it to spread outside landscapes
~Especially invasive in warmer, humid areas like coastal and southern Alabama
~Crowds out native shrubs and trees, particularly in disturbed sites and edges
~Offers minimal value to native pollinators or wildlife
~Introduced pests like Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale are now spreading to some native plant species
❓What Is Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale?
This invasive pest, first found in Texas, has spread rapidly across the Southeast. It creates unsightly black sooty mold and weakens plants. Even more troubling, researchers have found that the scale may also affect native species, including American beautyberry and even some native hollies.
This shows how non-native ornamentals can act as a bridge for pests and pathogens that harm our natural ecosystems.
❓The Bigger Picture
Crepe Myrtles may not be invasive everywhere, but in parts of the Deep South, we’re starting to see the early warning signs. They’ve become overused in landscaping, while native flowering trees and shrubs (like Redbuds, Serviceberry, and Sweetspire) are often overlooked.
And while a single Crepe Myrtle in a yard may seem harmless, the cumulative effect across thousands of landscapes is habitat loss, pest spread, and biodiversity decline.
✔What You Can Do:
~Consider replacing or mixing in native alternatives like:
-Chionanthus virginicus (Fringetree)
-Amelanchier arborea (Serviceberry)
-Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire)
-Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
~Avoid planting new Crepe Myrtles in wild or rural-adjacent areas
~Report infestations of Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale to extension services
~Educate others! Beautiful landscaping doesn’t have to come at the cost of native ecosystems
