Petal Power - Queen's Crape Myrtle
Common Name: Queen's Crape Myrtle
Latin Name: Lagerstroemia speciosa
Family: Lythraceae
This tree puts on a striking display of flower clusters from mid summer to early fall in Hong Kong. The leaves will later acquire a reddish tinge, offsetting the brown colour of the seed pods that stay on the branches through the winter season. It grows up to about 10 metres high and is a native of China.
Incidentally, the name 'crape' comes from the flower petal's resemblance to the thin crinkled fabric called crêpe. We're not sure why the word 'queen' was added – perhaps this startling colour was assumed to be a royal one?