Is Crepe Myrtle A Hardwood

Has anybody ever heard of burning crepe myrtle in a fireplace.

Is crepe myrtle a hardwood.

Crepe myrtle when i was a kid growing up in far north queensland we knew from kid to kid cultural knowledge that the very best wood to make shaghais out of surgical rubber sling shots were guava and crepe myrtle i still have mine it is a crepe myrtle corker with a tribal head whittled onto the main shaft. Take cuttings from new growth of the season leaving three to four nodes per cutting and several leaves. Deciduous perennial plants which are normally leafless for some time during the year. It grows in warm climates like those in the south of europe and the united states.

Queen s crepe myrtle l. Commonly known as crape myrtle or crepe myrtle is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the indian subcontinent and southeast asia. Wood hardness varies among the hardwood species and some are actually softer than some softwoods. The friend that helped me cut it up told me that it is ok to use it as firewood.

Crape myrtle is easily propagated from semi hardwood cuttings taken during the growing season. It works well has decent hardness and a nice white appearance when harvested from the smaller varieties. I lost a crepe myrtle in hurricane isaac. This is related to lagerstroemia indica also known as the common crepe myrtle.

The common garden plant while not large enough to produce lumber can produce some very nice hard and stiff wood for canes walking sticks and small turnings. I had never heard of this but i saved a few logs and figured i d give it a try. The tree itself has a very hard wood that can be used in craft applications. Will it smoke or will it burn clean like a hardwood.

With its large colorful bunches of flowers bursting from graceful branches crape myrtle is a favorite among gardeners in the southeast of the u s. Originally imported from asia in the eighteenth century it thrives in zones 7 to 9 but will grow as far north as boston. The crepe myrtle is typically thought of as an ornamental shrub or small tree. Speciosa grows only in the tropical south.

Trees with broad flat leaves as opposed to coniferous or needled trees. How does it burn. June july and august are excellent times to root cuttings. Also gradually remove side branches up.