[5] Their use in the United Kingdom was curtailed until recently because the plants rarely survived British winters even in mild southern coastal areas.

It turns out that crepe myrtles need a sustained period of hot weather in the summer to "ripen" the wood, or they will be damaged by frost in the winter.

[6] With increasing temperatures due to climate change and in urban heat islands, crepe myrtles are now being successfully planted, typically against a south-facing wall where they can "get a good baking".

[6] Hybrids were created and released by the U.S. National Arboretum beginning in the 1950s, and are valued for their cold hardiness, their resistance to powdery mildew, and their striking patterned bark.

[7] Earlier hybrids had lavender or white flowers, with brighter colors (and dwarf cultivars) being developed later through additional crossing and selection, or via backcrossing.