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Definition of crape myrtle
crape myrtle
Plural:crape myrtles
crape myrtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Lagerstroemia, native to Asia and northern Australia, widely cultivated for its vibrant, crinkled, paper-like flowers and smooth, peeling bark.
Example
"The landscaping crew planted a row of crape myrtles along the driveway to provide bright pink blooms throughout the hot summer."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently spelled as 'crepe myrtle,' especially in the American South where the tree is an extremely common ornamental landscape plant.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named because its highly crinkled, delicate flowers resemble crape (an older spelling of crepe) paper or fabric, and its overall growth habits and foliage vaguely resemble those of true myrtles.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Crape myrtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/crape myrtle