Hi,
If I get Crepe Myrtle trees from NC and plant them in Central Jersey, will they adapt to the NJ weather or get a Climate shock and not grow in Central Jersey?
Is there any special care that these trees need in winter time.

Your help will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

Short answer is... No problem.
Crape myrtle isn't from around here... But it's supposed to be cold hardy to zone 6....

I think they might be a bit "iffy". We have had them here in zone 9 and they are fine for years and then killed off by the unexpected temps that go below freezing.

Ok, after reading about growing crape myrtles in the north.... Maybe stay with lilacs.
My bad, made too hasty a post, and then couldn't find the delete button...

Lilacs are a very good choice there. I wish they grew here.

I've never heard of Crepe Myrtle growing as far north as N.J. which I think contains hardiness zones of 5 to 7 (zone 7 being along the coast) and they might have issues with extended cold winter temperatures in the north or central part of the state.

This page shows Crepe Myrtle being hardy from zones 7 - 9: http://landscapedesignbylee.bl... but I decided to google "Crepe Myrtle for N.J. gardens" and a couple of Southern N.J. nurseries popped up that sell them: http://www.circlegardencenter....
http://damblys.com/

You could always get the more dwarf varieties and keep them containerized.

You could always get the more dwarf varieties and keep them containerized.
That could be a good solution if you have a place to move it inside for the winter.

I found these articles about dwarf Crepe Myrtles:
http://garden.org/learn/articl...
http://garden.org/learn/articl...
http://garden.org/learn/articl...

Here are the listings in the database for a few of the smaller varieties; unfortunately no photos yet for some of them:
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Chickasaw')
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Delta Blush')
Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Snow Dazzle)
Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Chisam Fire')

I know that some database entries say not suitable for containers and I totally agree with that for the ones that grow to monster sizes but I've grown Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Ebony Flame') in a container for two full years now and it hasn't skipped a beat; currently in full, glorious bloom. The Black Diamond series of Crepes are said to grow 10 to 12 feet I think but they can always be kept pruned to a desired size. Here's a list of the Black Diamond Crepe's: http://garden.org/plants/searc...

I know a few people that grow them here. Up here in the north west corner o the state they need Winter protection for the first few years. By my mother in Bergen County a few of her neighbors have them for years now.