A Favorite SC Tree...But Not a Palmetto?
The Crepe Myrtle What? But it's not even native to Myrtle Beach, SC! Native to eastern Asia, the Lagerstroemia, or Crepe Myrtle, came into the United States through Charleston, SC , in the late 1780s through the early to late 1790s, according to John Barrat of the Smithsonian . They did well in the warm, humid climate (similar to that of their native area), and as a result, spread all over the Southeast. That being said, they are an absolute staple of the South Carolina landscape with their many shapes and sizes, whether just a shrub or a full-blown tree, and their pink, purple, red, or white conical blooms. Pros and Cons of the Crepe Myrtle Ugh, is this another kudzu situation? According to John Barrat of the Smithsonian , with these trees individually producing a few pounds of seed each year, native birds have quickly added it to their diet, and in this way, it has had a positive impact on the ecosystem. Crepe Myrtles ar...