I just planted a variety with leaves that are almost black with red flowers, stunning! Very similar to your second picture though.

Forgot the varietal name already, and was quite surprised that it has already bloomed after having been planted in mid August. We are in a pretty deep drought..., have rampant deer, but still they never disappoint.

Hoovb, what cultivar is the first one? dynamite?

What I have done is cut out the spent flowers and they will repeat bloom. I have a large Tuskegee which doesn't really start to show color 'till July, but blooms for a full two months.

Pictured here is 'Pocomoke' which is a dwarf USNA introduction and just about finished blooming. I took this pic last Saturday in Annandale VA. This plant has never been pruned and was planted about 15 years ago.

Sam, next time you're in Annandale, you really must stop by my place!

Yes, 'Dynamite'. No deer here, thank goodness.

Nice 'Pokomoke' there.

I have a pocomoke still in its container. I did not realize it could get that big.

Now i dont know where to plant it. lol

Most are quite 'vigorous'. The only ones I don't like are the super mini dwarfs. The one I posted in the pic above is a regular 'Dwarf Hopi'..., only it seems more Hopi than dwarf.

Crepes around here tend to be shrubs rather than trees. I started this one from seed about a dozen years ago (a Park Seed "crepe myrtlette" variety) and it's mostly a die-back perennial/shrub depending on the winter (in a mild one, half or more of the wood might survive), starting to flower anywhere from July to September. It's the current star of the mixed perennial/shrub border.

Now, if a newer generation of "dwarf crepe myrtles" from seed would only get into the flowering act (up to seven feet in height in 4 years, but yet to bloom).

I took this pic yesterday of a murder victim. Interesting how it blooms into the fall but what I really wanted to show is the color. Don't you think it gets lost in front of a brick house? I do.

you love them because you can have them where you are... im in the frigid hills of CT and cant grow one here... Boo!