Hello granny!

I love crepes but "up" here in St Louis many act like perennials. Are you in a zone warmer than me?

If so I say go for it.

presume anything that will get to your 20 to 30 feet ...

will be the same wide ... causing shade ...

also .... i dont understand how it will fit in a corner created by a chimney and a wall ... half of the plant... will want to be inside the house.. which mean substantial pruning at height over the years ... not to mention it will inherently want to grow away from the house reaching for light ... rather than straight up ...

though i cant do CMs up here in mi ... most flowering trees require full sun ... or very bright shade.. and i dont understand how that works in your spot ...

you are way out there.. trying to decide on a cultivar ... given the description of the space you want to use ...

ken

Vam....more research is warranted. "Fantasy" crapemyrtle is a good sized tree, very broad and a good 50' tall. It's a great plant, but not what you're looking for.

The Lagerstroemia indica crapes are far less desirable than the hybrid crosses.....indica X fauriei. I wouldn't have anything but one of the hybrids.

Here's a list of the hybrid introductions from the NATIONAL ARBORETUM , the gold standard for Lagerstroemia hybrids. As you will see, there are many sizes and shapes to choose from.

Crapemyrtles usually end up disappointing those who try to fit them into a cubby hole. They are invariably far larger in every direction than hoped for and end up getting whacked back on an annual basis.

My thought is this would be a great spot for a tree that produces flowers near the top, where you usually can't see them. Would there be space for a dwarf tulip tree?

Look at street trees...trees planted in sidewalks are usually the trees that thrive in cramped locations and tolerate pruning. Idahoensis black locust?

i am a visual guy ... how about a pic of the spot ...

i wasnt aware there are dwarf tulip poplars ...

ken

Ok, I shouldhave explained this better. The tree does not really need to fit between the chimney and the house--yes, that is a tiny spot, only a few feet wide. In the photo the tree would actually be centered, or maybe slightly to the left. There is about 25-30 feet between the house and the edge of a veg garden, so, yes, if the tree is 20-30 feet wide it would shade the garden a little. What I read about L. faurei was that it was taller than broad. I know one should not plant any tree too close to a house.

There is plenty of sun in this spot, you are facing due south in the photo. The house does shade it some in the early mornings but a larger plant like a tree would definitely get enough sun.

I don't think I want a tulip tree--the woods surrounding are many acres of mostly tulip poplar so if they are anything alike I definitely would not want it. Are there other trees that flower abundantly and do not grow very large?

I do have two crape myrtles in my front yard, they're very cheap ones from Walmart and have been there about 5 years. They are only about 10-15 feet high and just a few feet wide. So a 50 foot specimen is a surprise! I will look for those introductions from the arboretum.

Btw, I'm in zone 7a. Thanks for all the help!

I thinkj a Crepe Myrtle is a great choice.

If it was my bedroom up there, I would want you to choose a tree with beautiful bark. And lovely coloured flowers. And never prune it, just let it grow tall and elegant so that the bark can be enjoyed. And it will flower out near the high window, as you say. What a great thing.

Tulip trees get very wide. Their shape is like a cubby house underneath, when they are in their prime. Because their branches droop down to the ground and are perfect for holding secret meetings. They suit an altogether different spot I think.

Thanks, definitely don't want the drooping branches!

Crepes are terrific shrubs and trees. Investigate the hybrid cultivars bred for both cold hardiness and high summer humidity. Also check their eventual sizes and your situation. You can recognize the hybruds because they all are named after Native American tribes. We love our Dwarf Hopi, Zuni, and Catawba. Dynamite Reds

are not part of this series but known for their true red color (if color is the deciding factor).

Catawba is grape purple. These were last year's, I have since been training them as standards.