Crepe myrtle features small, glossy green leaves that emerge bronze in spring and turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange, or red in fall. In summer, it produces large clusters of crinkled, “crepe-textured” flowers in colors ranging from white and pink to red and purple. One of its most striking features is its smooth, mottled bark, which peels away in patches to reveal layers of tan, gray, and cinnamon tones, giving the tree a sculptural, year-round ornamental appeal.