Deciduous broad-crowned shrub or small tree 3-6 m tall. Bark attractively pale, smooth and mottled on a trunk that divides near to the base. Leaves opposite or alternate (upper ones), entire, 3-7 cm long, 3-4 cm wide, elliptic to oblong, pointed, changing to yellow, orange then scarlet in autumn. Leaf stalk absent or very short. Flowers varying from white through pink to purple and ruffled or crimped in various cultivars; Jan-Mar. Fruit a capsule about 1 cm long.
Recent introductions from the USA include 'Byers'Wonderful White', 'Carolina Beauty' and 'Potomac'.
India, Burma, S China.
Smooth, attractive bark on multi-trunked tree; large clusters of crinkled flowers.
VIC: Melbourne (Royal Bot. Gds, E of Bell Shed). NSW: Used as a feature in several townships, most notably in Gloucester on the N coast, where the climate appears to be ideal.
Source: (2002). Lythraceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Flowers white. Int. Prince Nsy, Flushing, New York, usa.
Dwarf. Originated Twitty Nsy, Texarkana, Texas, usa.
Flowers rose pink. Recorded as early as 1835 and int. Johann o. Voigt, Calcutta, 1845.
Flowers red. Int. Moon, Mahlon &Son, Morrisville, Pennsylvania, 1874.
