Hello, I recently purchased a Crape Myrtle from our local box store (probably a mistake but the price was right) I live in southwestern PA and believe our zone is 5-6. After I brought the tree home I went online to get information on how to care for the tree. Everything I found indicated that this tree thrives in southern states. I was told at the time of purchase that this tree is a great alternative to the flowering plum, which grows in our zone. Should I return this tree and purchase something else, or will this grow in my zone? I would hate to plant it only to have it die over the winter. Thank you so very much for your help

According to our zone lookup found under the Useful Tools in the menu bar, you are a 6a.
I looked through a few sites listing it and while many say minimum zone 7, few say zone 6 so you are right on the border.

Thank you Sue. So you think
I can keep it?

Well, of course you can keep it! But your question is... will it survive and do well? I have several crape myrtles in my yard and they sure are pretty but I'm in Arizona. The web says....

"Crape myrtles trees mostly do well in warm zones 7-10. Cultivars such as Dynamite Sioux, Delta, and Enduring Summer thrive in hardiness zones 7-10. Only a few cultivars can do well in the cold climates of zone 6. Pocomoke, Acoma, Caddo, and Tonto are some of the developed cultivars that thrive in cold temperatures."

I have bought some plants... a Cape honeysuckle and a Hammer's Rose come to mind, that are rated
for zones 8-11. They were both supposed to grow 6-8' tall. I'm in zone 8b.So I was on the cusp. Even though they survive here it is still too cold for them and they die down to the ground every winter and only grow to about 2' each year. Bummer! But the big box stores still keep selling them here. So I don't buy any plants now unless I am somewhere near the center of the hardiness zones. Hope this helps. Happy gardening.

In zone 6, CMs may become deciduous and grow from the base of the shrub in spring. It may be difficult to grow it reliably in tree form if cold temperatures kill the trunk.

I have a friend who lives in zone 6. She bought a crepe myrtle from the big box store and planted it in her courtyard. It dies to the ground every winter and regrows every spring. It hasn't bloomed since the first summer she planted it. I don't know if its a lack of sun or can't grow fast enough to bloom in her shorter summer.

I would expect that 'dies to the ground' behavior in zone 6.

A shorter growing season could delay the start of blooming towards late summer/fall as Crape Myrtles tend to break dormancy late most years. They bloom on new wood and if your friend were to prune at the wrong time, it may further delay or prevent blooming altogether. It is best never to prune Crape Myrtles, except to remove dead wood of course. In zone 6, they should be grown as shrubs, which they are and not as standard trees. For a similar look, consider lilac trees, which are also much more winter hardy and can be grown in a Crape Myrtle-like tree form.

Personally, I wouldn't bother doing too much for crape myrtle...
But someone that was married to the concept of growing one might study the site, and research the micro climates in the yard.

I suspect that it would be possible to get tree form if planted on the south side of the house, especially in a sheltered niche.

Personally, I'd want to plant something more unusual than a crape myrtle in such a pride of place location... But... certainly seems doable.

I tried, but I can't remember what was suggested to use up North in substitute for a crepe myrtle. I was hoping google was going to help, but no luck.

Thank you everyone for your valuable input. It was a big help!
I returned the shrub/tree and will look for something more compatible to my zone.

Look up Fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus. It's a smaller tree like Crape Myrtle but has white blooms on it. I have 2 and they're still young but I have seen them bloom and they're gorgeous. Native to boot.

Zone 7 b in North Carolina, where I am - they grow magnificently. We have 3 ( they came w9ith the house ). Keep straggly branches trimmed, bur they are at last 25 ft tall.
Have had an arborist suggest they should be trimmed.
I think not. He called my Fir tree a Hemlock!
Nope.
As long as they are happy reaching for the sun, they shall be fine.

Peggy
- ours begin to bloom in August, so these are from last year -