"Paul Paulsen" wrote in message news:SBwLc.156006$Oq2.59956@attbi_s52...
On recent drives to Mountain Home, Arkansas and to the Great Smoky Mountains
Nat'l Park I saw some beautiful plants which I had not seen before.
1) The first one seemed to be some type of locust tree with numerous
pink or light purple blossoms. Some were very large and others almost looked
like a bush. These seemed common along the roadsides.
2) The second were even more pretty with large clumps of blossoms at the
ends of each branch. Colors? I saw white, pink, red, deep red, and purple.
One of the locals said this was myrtle.
Please let me know what these were and what the typical growing zones are
for plants.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
Northern IL

(1) My first thought was locust, but they are a spring bloomer. I'd
guess mimosa, since they are an early summer bloomer.

(2) Crepe myrtle. They come in all the colors you mentioned, come in
full size (15-20 ft), semi-dwarf (10-12 ft.), and dwarf (6-10 ft.)
They bloom mid summer on new growth so they are usually pruned back in
February. They are easily started from seed, but usually bought as
started plants. In zones 8 & 9 the seed heads can be dead headed and
you can usually get a second blooming in early fall.

Bob S.