Lagerstroemia subcostata 3

In my experience, one of the most spectacular elements of the forests of S. Japan and Taiwan, due to the particularly striking peeling patchwork bark, showing shades of burnt-orange, rust, white and creamy-beige. Elegant slim leaves held on layered, spreading branches from a vase shaped multistemmed trunk system. Flowers are white, pink or purple in late summer followed by excellent red or orange autumn colour. Requires reasonable warmth to ripen growth, so best in a sunny warm position. A large shrub or small tree here? This is a tree for a climate change future in the UK.