This is a commonly cultivated shrub ("crape-myrtle") of warm-temperate regions that occasionally persists at abandoned homesites (Chester 1992). There is no definite evidence of naturalization in Ky., but occasional escapes from seed have been reported in Tenn. (K) and s. Ohio (M. Vincent, pers. comm.). Plants in Ky. are often damaged by cold weather, and probably do produce viable seed in general. True naturalization does appear to occur further south, from e. Texas to Ala. to N.Car. (K, W)