Have you lightly scraped any of the bark to see if it’s green underneath? Scratch tests are usually accurate on these, ime.

I’m sorry to say this one looks dead or severely damaged. Even though certain CMs are notorious for being late to leaf out, it should be showing some signs of life by now. This looks too dried up and brittle for late spring.

Where are you located? Did it suffer freeze damage? Is there any green coming up from below? If there is, you’ll need to cut all dead wood down and let the shoots grow. Info:

https://neilsperry.com/2021/05/retraining-a-frozen-tree-form-crape-myrtle/

https://neilsperry.com/2021/05/retraining-a-frozen-tree-form-crape-myrtle/

If freezing isn’t an issue ….

I can’t tell in the photo, but CMs do not do well if planted too deep. They can be very picky about that, and will struggle and/or die if not planted at a proper height. I have one that I initially planted correctly (I thought), but it settled too much later … it let me know fast. I had to carefully dig around the trunk to expose the root flare or it wouldn’t have survived. The CM was a couple of years old at the time.

There may have been a water issue with yours, too, I don’t know. When was this planted? What is/are your irrigation methods?

I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think this one is alive.

ETA: Adding the photo here for others, as it shows up blank in your post, and has to be clicked on. This site is glitchy when posting images.

Have you lightly scraped any of the bark to see if it’s green underneath? Scratch tests are usually accurate on these, ime.

I'll definitely check on this when I can get back outside this evening.

There may have been a water issue with yours, too, I don’t know. Where are you located? When was this planted? What is your method of irrigation?

I'm in central KY. Nothing too complicated by way of watering - at the same cadence as the nearby rose bushes, butterfly bushes, and another CM that are doing well. Couple times a week depending on rainfall. But as you mention it, this one is in a part of my yard that tends to collect water when it rains.

I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think this one is alive.

It was in similiar shape a couple years ago, though I don't remember it this bad and not showing signs of life mid spring. I crepe "murdered" it just for fresh start and it was decent last summer. Any scenario at least my remaining CM will be babied going forward.

ETA: Adding the photo here for others, as it shows up blank in your post, and has to be clicked on. This site is glitchy when posting images.

Thanks for all the help!

You’re very welcome. :)

I added more to my post regarding winter weather. Any possible freeze damage?

I’m in N Texas, and even our CMs were hit bad the past two winters.

All mine look the same -- killed to the ground. But they should sprout from the base eventually.

Could you have Crepe Myrtle scale on those branches? They look rather dark to me. We have it pretty bad here in N TX.