Queen Crape Myrtle, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Queen crape myrtle is the tropical, big-leaved cousin of the common crape myrtle, and it does well in SW Florida as a fast specimen tree for big, sunny, frost-protected yards. It carries lavender-purple flower clusters in summer, then turns red and drops its leaves in winter. We deliver and plant 25 gallon trees.

Light:: Full sun, all day
Water:: Low to moderate once established; regular water while young and during dry-season leaf-out
Salt:: Moderate

Text Me a Planted Price Call (239) 799-5594

Queen Crape Myrtle sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Plant	Sizes
Queen Crape Myrtle	25 Gallon

Queen Crape Myrtle in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: 25 to 40 ft tall and 20 to 30 ft wide; pruning keeps it smaller
Light: Full sun, all day
Water: Low to moderate once established; regular water while young and during dry-season leaf-out
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Cold tolerance: Tender. Leaves and soft wood burn near freezing and a hard freeze can cut it to the ground; choose a protected spot
Growth rate: Fast
Florida native: No, native to tropical Asia
Botanical name: Lagerstroemia speciosa

Where Queen Crape Myrtle works in a SW Florida yard

Queen crape myrtle needs full sun and room: a front lawn specimen, a corner lot or the center of a big bed. It is deciduous, so it casts shade in summer and lets winter sun through once the red leaves fall. Plumbago, society garlic and blue daze underneath echo the lavender blooms without competing for light.

Specimen flowering tree
Summer color in full sun
Large open yards
Seasonal shade

How our crew plants it

Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the 25 gallon root ball and no deeper, with the root flare slightly above grade. Plant 15 to 20 feet from the house and pool, and stake lightly for a year.

Our crew waters it in and cleans up. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings, so soak it often at first.

Care after planting

Prune in late winter while it is bare to control height and push new flowering shoots.
Water regularly while young and through dry-season leaf-out, then let an established tree rely mostly on rain.
Feed in spring and fall with a balanced fertilizer plus micronutrients, and skip June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
Cover young trees on frost nights, and wait until spring growth starts before removing freeze-damaged wood.

Queen Crape Myrtle questions we hear

What is the difference between queen crape myrtle and regular crape myrtle?+

Queen crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a larger tropical tree with bigger leaves and flower clusters, and it is more cold tender. Common crape myrtle is smaller and hardier. In SW Florida the queen needs a protected spot and full sun to do well.

When does queen crape myrtle bloom in Florida?+

Late spring into summer is the usual show, with large lavender-purple clusters at the branch tips. Pruning in late winter pushes fresh shoots that carry the flowers. It needs all-day sun, since shade means fewer flowers. The leaves turn red and drop in winter.

Will queen crape myrtle survive a freeze in Fort Myers?+

A light frost burns the leaves and tender shoots, and a hard freeze can cut the tree to the ground. Coastal Lee and Collier are safer than inland Lehigh Acres. Plant in a sheltered, sunny spot and cover young trees on frost nights. An established tree may resprout from the base.

Updated October 2026