Crepe Myrtle Tree, Natchez

Really like the silver bark... Is this a daft question... Is it peeling?

I like Crape myrtle. They bloom here for a very long time from spring through late fall. They're spectacular, although not as spectacular as Queen's Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) which is very tropical.

This one (Natchez) blooms from end of June through August and supplies a steady & reliable food supple for bees, butterflies, etc.

Tracey, yes, it has an exfoliating bark which begins to peel off end of August revealing a smooth reddish bark.

Bathgate:

Do the pink and red varieties grow there?

I've seen very few pinks but they often suffer 'die back' over winter. They are more common further south. Natchez (white) can tolerate New York winters better.

It's funny because pink and red are the most common colors here. They can become quite a large tree, though.