Sweet Bay Magnolia or Crepe Myrtle?

Hurricane434

Hi, I am in the process of having a landscaper install new landscaping at my house. I live in Lafayette, Louisiana which is in Zone 8 I think. It's a warm climate to say the least. I have gotten a couple estimates and ideas so far for the landscaping project. I am having a little trouble deciding on a landscaping tree. My default choice, which I like, is a Crepe Myrtle. This was suggested by the second proposal I received. It is very popular around the area and I like it just fine, but since it doesn't keep its leaves all year I was hoping to find an evergreen if I could figure out something I liked.

The first proposal had a Sweet Bay Magnolia. He assured me it wasn't like the traditional magnolia you may see "in your grandmother's yard"...I know what he means. They are a mess. This is a smaller variety and it is considered semi-evergreen and I don't think it would lose its leaves in this climate...although I don't know for sure. I wasn't very familiar with it at first but I've looked around town and have seen alot of them. It looks very nice. Has a light green leaf that looks kinda silvery. But here is where my main questions come: The other landscaper mentioned that, while they are nice, he said after many years they could have root problems. He said Crepe Myrtle would be better.

Can anyone tell me if Sweet Bay Magnolia could cause root problems if close to a house?. Not right up against but in the flower bed. Also how big will they get? He said the "lil Jim" magnolia is smaller but I don't like those as much. Any other thoughts in general?

Thanks so much!

arborjockey

Sweat bay Sweat bay Sweat bay Sweat bay Sweat bay Sweat bay
They smell good even when you chip em'

Hurricane434

What about getting too big or root problems? Also, I will have to call the guy back but I am thinking he did not mean the roots could cause foundation problems with the house. Maybe he just meant the roots cause problems with the nearby flowers/plants in the bed? He mentioned the roots can get near the surface or something. Any thoughts on these possible issues?

Thanks again!

Davo The Terrible

While I don't know much about trees for your climate zone, I have noticed a lot of Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) sucker profusely. This can become a bit of a maintenance issue to keep under control.

TreeSpecialist

Magnolia grandiflora is the superior tree. When grown correctly - low limbs left on the tree touching the ground - most of the constant rain of leaves stay under the tree forming a mulch.

A dense root mat will form with any magnolia. Unless there is a water leak beneath the slab foundation, the roots won't be a problem. Roots tend to grow where it is favorable for roots - i.e. oxygen and moisture. There shouldn't be either beneath a slab foundation.

"Little Gem®"?magnolias are dwarfs which mean they only grow to 40 or 50 feet instead of 80 or 90.

Crape myrtles are available in a wide variety. Look for hybrids resistant to powdery mildew. Single trunk specimens are available and are less likely to have any basal sprouts. My favorits is the Natchez®?- blooms white, often found with a single trunk, and has a bark which exfoliates in the fall to reveal a deep cinnamon red color most of the winter.

Crape myrtles have the longest blooming cycle - up to 150 days if you work at it. But magnolias have a wonderful fragrance that crape myrtles don't have.

The crape myrtle should be allowed to grow naturally with only dead, dying, broken, or crossing limbs removed. Do not allow your crapes?to suffer the spring mutilation seen everywhere which has been deemed "crape murder." (If you don't know what that is, does a simple google search for crape murder.)

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