Heavy pruning must be done each year, if large specimen type blooms are desired. However, one of the most fascinating aspects of the crape myrtle is its unusual plant form. When the form is destroyed by severe pruning, then the blooms will be all that remains for one to enjoy. By a selective method of pruning, the unusual sculptured form, flowers and colorful foliage make it a plant with year-round charm. Frequently crape myrtle is attacked by aphids and white fly.
Aphids are small green colored lice-like insects that suck the sap and cause small malformed leaves.
Both aphids and white fly can be controlled by spraying with an appropriate insecticide. Powdery mildew is a common disease of Crape myrtle, especially when it is grown in damp shaded areas. This fungus disease causes the plants to be unsightly, but also can cause some defoliation and actual death of severely infested stems. Control can be achieved by spraying with an appropriate fungicide or planting resistant cultivars.