I live in Kansas City Missouri. I fell in love with Crape Myrtles in Texas although I have heard the winters here are too harsh. Recently I hear that a variety called Lagerstroemia faurei might be able to survive the winters here. Do you know if this is true.? Please email me with any information if you would at Sherrisneakers@sbcglobal.net I would really love to find a crape myrtle that can make it here. Thanks for your help.
Looks to me like you are just on the border of hardiness. Michael Dirr in his "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" suggests that Lagerstroemia faurei should likely be considered a zone 6. Incidentally, the US National Arboretum has an active Lagerstroemia breeding program, and many of their cultivars are listed as being root hardy in zone 6. Many of these have Lagerstroemia faurei as a parent. US National Arboretum's Award Winners (includes factsheets on 10 cultivars). US National Arboretum's Quick Guide Chart to Crape Myrtles to their 29 releases.
