White Crape Myrtles

Masterful blending of Natchez and Arapaho crape myrtles.

Natchez White Crape Myrtle with round canopy and pendulous blooms. Reaches 30 to 35 feet. Along with the orange colored Tuscarora the Natchez White Crape Myrtle holds the most popular top spot for a Texas Crape Myrtle.

Beautiful Natchez White Crape Myrtles has been pruned up but you can see the arching canopy with the dangling panicles of a single Natchez white.

Natchez White Crape Myrtles are ‘careful’ bloomers. They take their time showing their full display.
Natchez reaches 25.
Kiowa shares the characteristics of the Natchez but reaches 30 to 35 feet.
Acona shares many of the features of the Natchez with white pendulous blooms but reaches only ten feet tall.
Townhouse Crapes bloom before Natchez reaching 20 feet tall with whiter, fluffier blooms. More panicles but smaller panicles and a different branching pattern.

National Arboretum White Crape Myrtles

The three white crape myrtles introduced by the USDA National arboretum have pendulous branching, exquisite panicles, lovely cinnamon bark and are descendants of L. fauriei (which makes them mildew resistant). The National Arboretum crapes have Indian Tribe names:

Kiowa – reaching 30 to 35 feet
Natchez – reaching 25 to 30 feet
Acona – reaching 10 to 12 feet

Summary Table

Cultivar	Height	Panicle Size	Bloom Color	Notable Traits	National Arboretum	Climate Suitability
Kiowa	30–35 ft	6–12 in	White	Stunning bark, tall stature	Yes	Excellent for hot, dry climates
Natchez	25–30 ft	8–14 in	White	Large blooms, cinnamon bark	Yes	High drought/mildew resistance
Acoma	10–

Each of these cultivars was developed by the National Arboretum for improved disease resistance, ornamental value, and climate adaptability, making them highly recommended choices for gardeners and landscapers in hot and dry environments across the southern U.S.

Kiowa Crape Myrtle

(Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Kiowa’)

Height & Spread:
Reaches 30 to 35 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 20 feet, making it one of the tallest and most stately cultivars in the fauriei species.
Panicle Size:
Panicles typically range from 6 to 12 inches, with bright white blooms that appear in summer and last 60+ days in favorable conditions.
Notable Features:
- Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, Kiowa is prized for its exceptionally striking bark, which peels to reveal a smooth, silvery-marbled surface, considered one of the most attractive among crape myrtles.
- Its white blooms, though understated compared to pink or red cultivars, are long-lasting and pair well with the tree’s ornamental bark.
Climate Adaptability:
Kiowa demonstrates excellent drought tolerance and disease resistance, particularly to powdery mildew and sooty mold, making it well-suited for hot, arid climates.

Natchez Crape Myrtle

(Lagerstroemia indica × fauriei ‘Natchez’)

Height & Spread:
Grows to 25 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 20 feet, forming a large, vase-shaped canopy.
Panicle Size:
Produces panicles 8 to 14 inches long, among the largest in the crape myrtle family, with bright white flowers that bloom prolifically through summer into early fall.
Notable Features:
- One of the most widely planted cultivars developed by the National Arboretum.
- Known for its exfoliating cinnamon-colored bark, graceful form, and fall foliage that turns orange-red.
Climate Adaptability:
Natchez is highly drought-tolerant, has strong resistance to mildew, and thrives in urban heat zones, making it ideal for Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and other hot states.

Acoma Crape Myrtle

(Lagerstroemia indica × fauriei ‘Acoma’)

Height & Spread:
A compact cultivar reaching 10 to 12 feet tall with a spreading, semi-weeping form, ideal for smaller landscapes.
Panicle Size:
The panicles are typically 6 to 8 inches, producing pure white flowers that bloom mid-to-late summer and persist for several weeks.
Notable Features:
- Bred by the U.S. National Arboretum as part of its Native American-named cultivar series.
- Its elegant, arching form and manageable size make it a favorite for foundation plantings and small gardens.
Climate Adaptability:
Like other fauriei hybrids, Acoma has high resistance to powdery mildew, is drought-resistant, and performs well in hot, dry regions with well-drained soils.

Natchez White Crape Myrtles

Natchez White Crape Myrtle grove blooms after Townhouse. The grove of Natchez crape myrtles show the heavy pendulous blooms on pliable arching branches and demonstrate why this is the most popular crape myrtle in Texas.

I have a second theory concerning the popularity of Natchez White crape myrtles and why they are so popular in Texas! Men, yep, men. Men seem to take charge of tree planting and choice … my statistics show that the “Tree” category of pages on this website are predominantly viewed by men.

I think men prefer the white to the colored crapes for many reasons. Additionally, crapes are often chosen to blend with the brick and stone colors of homes. White always works! No matter my theories, white crapes are the most popular color and Natchez crapes are truly beautiful.

Natchez white crape myrtles flank the door. These will reach thirty feet in height in Texas.

Natchez White Crape Myrtles can actually reach almost 25 feet in Texas when mature. While the stated growth is 25 feet a well cared for Natchez White Crape Myrtle can exceed that height. The important distinction between the Kiowa and the Natchez is the forking in the branching begins much higher in a Kiowa than in a Natchez.

At about age three years the Natchez White Crape Myrtle will spread its canopy and begin to make a full umbrella arch. You can expect a well watered and cared for Natchez White to reach at least 25 feet in height and become a profuse bloomer.

Grove of Natchez White Crape Myrtles with pendulous blooms and round arching canopies. Actually this home owner might have been happier with a Kiowa for a driveway arch than Natchez White Crape Myrtles.

Natchez white crape myrtle in the rain with Knockout Roses

The Natchez White Crape Myrtle is an early bloomer. Blooming just after Bashan’s Party Pink, which is the first Crape Myrtle to bloom in Texas.

High Cotton Crape Myrtle

High Cotton White Crape Myrtle: upward branching reaching forty feet in height or more.

White Cotton White Crape Myrtle: upward branching with large white pannicles

Sarah’s Favorite: upward branching with large white pannicles. Much like High Cotton but reaches only 25 feet in height. As you can see those are very large pannicles. The Natzhez pannicles drape downward wile Sarah’s Favorite and High Cotton bloom upward.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recognized and notable white crape myrtle cultivars, showing mature height, panicle size, and relative bloom periods.

Kiowa White Crape Myrtle

Kiowa White Crape Myrtle with blooms on pendulous branches. The forking in the branching begins higher with the Kiowa than with the Natchez but you see the downward draping pannicles which contributes to the umbrella look at the top.

Townhouse White Crape Myrtle

Townhouse White Crape Myrtle. Upright growing flowers with fluffy white pamnicles reaching upward – does not have the pendulous look of the blooms on the leafy branch.

These Townhouse White Crape Myrtles planted with dwarf red canna lilies are a wonderful combination.

Townhouse White Crape Myrtles with lovely dwarf canna lilies planted below. This is a classic combination. Crape myrtles allow sufficient sunlight to allow the canna liiies bloom.

Beautiful grove of Townhouse White Crape Myrtles. What a beautiful entrance!

Byers White Crape Myrtle

Byers White Crape Myrtle blooms before Natchez which can be seen in the background.

Byers White Crape Myrtle in front of two Natchez White Crape Myrtles. This is an excellent example of the difference in the bloom time between the two Crapes , the growth structure, the shade of white and the actual blooms. The Byers White Crape will have fluffier white blooms, bloom earlier, bloom closer to the ground and not grow as tall as the Natchez White. These crapes were planted at the same time. A Byers White will grow 20 feet tall and have grayish bark. A Natchez will reach 30 feet or more and a Kiowa can exceed 30 feet.

Byers White Crape Myrtle to 20 feet with fluffy white panicles.

Acona White Crape

Acoma Crape Myrtle Texas reaches ten feet tall with pendulous branching and large fluffy white panicles. This is a National Arboretum Crape.

Link Here to See Texas Top Ten Crape Myrtles

Natchez White Crape Myrtle (more)

A beautiful fow of Natchez White Crape Myrtles. This row of mature white crape myrtles represents the distance you may chose to plant your crape myrtles from one another. If you want to enjoy the full umbrella arching canopy this may be too close.

A beautiful row of Natchez White Crape Myrtles.

Natchez White Crape Myrtle in Texas with the beautiful arching umbrella and room to expand!

White Natchea Crape Myrtle trained on a single trunk known as a ‘standard’. You can train any crape on one trunk. The disadavantage is with multiple trunks, if one trunk is diseased or dies the other trunks may survive. It is easy to train any crape into a standard with staking.

Natchez White Crape Myrtle pruned into a single trunk. This is known as a standard. You can purchase these or create a standard single trunk crape myrtle yourself. Select one trunk, stake it and allow it to grow! The downside to a standard crape myrtle is that if one trunk dies, the entire tree dies, though crape myrtles come back beautifully from their roots.

Natchez white crape myrtle on single trunk, known as a standard. Honestly, If I owned a castle like that (which I never have and I never will) I would have the King of all trees in Texas, a Live Oak. As lovely as a crape myrtle is and as much as I love them, that crape will never be tall enough or stately enough to match that home. But that’s only my little plant blogger opinion. Not worth much. At least they don’t have a gaudy fountain!

Beautiful arch of Natchez White Crape Myrtle on a single trunk, known as a ‘standard’ white crape myrtle.

Natchez_White_Crape_Myrtle_Lee_Ann_Torrans

Beautiful arch of Natchez White Crape Myrtle with multiple trunks.

Fantasy White Crape Myrtle

Fantasy White Crape Myrtle easily exceeds 50 feet tall. One of the tallest crape myrtles.

Fantasy White Crape Myrtle: one of the tallest crape myrtles.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Recommendations White Crape Myrtles

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and affiliated horticultural experts recommend several white-flowering crape myrtle cultivars that are well-suited to Texas landscapes. These selections are recognized for their adaptability to the state’s climate, disease resistance, and ornamental appeal.

Large White Crape Myrtles (Over 20 feet)

Natchez
A hybrid cultivar reaching heights of 25 to 30 feet, ‘Natchez’ is renowned for its large white flower panicles and attractive exfoliating cinnamon-colored bark. It offers a long blooming period and is widely planted across Texas.
Kiowa
This cultivar grows to 30 to 35 feet and is notable for its striking, smooth, silvery bark. ‘Kiowa’ produces white flowers and is valued for its ornamental bark and overall landscape presence.
Sarah’s Favorite White
A tall variety exceeding 20 feet, ‘Sarah’s Favorite White’ is recognized for its pure white blooms and strong performance in Texas climates.
Glendora White
Another large cultivar, ‘Glendora White’ reaches over 20 feet in height and is appreciated for its abundant white flowers and adaptability.collincountygardening.tamu.edu
Townhouse
This tall crape myrtle variety is known for its white blossoms and suitability for urban landscapes, growing over 20 feet tall.

Medium to Small White Crape Myrtles

Acoma
A semi-dwarf cultivar reaching 10 to 12 feet, ‘Acoma’ features a graceful, arching form with white flowers. It is a hybrid developed by the U.S. National Arboretum and is suitable for smaller spaces.
White Chocolate
Growing to about 8 to 9 feet, ‘White Chocolate’ is unique for its dark burgundy foliage that contrasts with its white blooms. It offers a compact size ideal for limited spaces.Dallas News
Petite Snow
A dwarf variety reaching 3 to 5 feet, ‘Petite Snow’ produces white flowers and is suitable for container planting or small garden areas.

These cultivars have been evaluated and recommended based on their performance in Texas landscapes, considering factors like bloom quality, growth habit, and resistance to common pests and diseases. For more detailed information on these and other crape myrtle varieties, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides resources and databases to assist in selecting the appropriate cultivar for specific landscape needs.