crape myrtle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Botanical, Gardening, Southern US Regional
Quick answer
What does “crape myrtle” mean?
A small ornamental tree or shrub of the genus Lagerstroemia, native to Asia, cultivated for its clusters of crinkled, brightly colored flowers and attractive, peeling bark.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small ornamental tree or shrub of the genus Lagerstroemia, native to Asia, cultivated for its clusters of crinkled, brightly colored flowers and attractive, peeling bark.
The term can refer to the plant itself, its wood, or be used metonymically to suggest a Southern US garden aesthetic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally understood but far less common in British contexts due to climate suitability. The plant is strongly associated with the Southern United States in American usage.
Connotations
In British English, it is a purely botanical/gardening term. In American English, especially Southern US, it carries strong connotations of heritage, Southern landscapes, and hot-climate gardening.
Frequency
Much higher frequency in American English, particularly in the Southeastern and Southcentral US. Very low frequency in British English outside of specialized horticultural contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crape myrtle” in a Sentence
[to] plant a crape myrtle[to] prune the crape myrtleThe crape myrtle [blooms/flourishes]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crape myrtle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gardener will crape-myrtle the border.
American English
- We're planning to crape-myrtle the entire front yard.
adjective
British English
- A crape-myrtle hedge.
American English
- A crape-myrtle-lined street.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in contexts of landscaping, nursery, or garden center businesses.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and landscape architecture papers.
Everyday
Common in gardening discussions and regional (Southern US) descriptions of scenery.
Technical
Used in horticultural manuals with specifications for cultivars (e.g., Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crape myrtle”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crape myrtle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crape myrtle”
- Misspelling as 'grape myrtle', 'crepe myrtle' (a variant, not a mistake), or 'crapemyrtle' (often accepted as a compound). Confusing it with true myrtle (Myrtus).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct and commonly used. 'Crape' is an older variant of 'crepe,' and both refer to the crinkled texture of the flowers.
They thrive in hot, sunny climates with well-drained soil and are particularly iconic in the Southeastern and Southcentral United States.
Yes, they are deciduous, losing their leaves in autumn. Their attractive, peeling bark provides winter interest.
Pruning is done to shape the tree, encourage more prolific flowering, and remove dead or crossing branches. Over-pruning ('crape murder') is discouraged by horticulturists.
A small ornamental tree or shrub of the genus Lagerstroemia, native to Asia, cultivated for its clusters of crinkled, brightly colored flowers and attractive, peeling bark.
Crape myrtle is usually formal, botanical, gardening, southern us regional in register.
Crape myrtle: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkreɪp ˈmɜː.təl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkreɪp ˈmɝː.t̬əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific plant name]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The CRinkled APE (ape) likes the MYRTLE tree.' CR-APE + MYRTLE. The flowers look like crinkled paper (crape).
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANTS ARE ORNAMENTS (e.g., 'The crape myrtle was the jewel of the garden').
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary characteristic of the crape myrtle's flowers?