Fall color on crape myrtle in spring

Question

It’s not even summer time and the leaves on my crepe myrtle have taken on fall coloring, no green. The neighbor’s crepe myrtle is green and vibrant. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Do your leaves have spots? Cercospora leaf spot can cause crepe myrtles to change color prematurely. The leaves would look like this:
http://southernlivingthedailysouth.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/cercospora_phixr.jpg?w=825&h=579

For more information on Cercospora leaf spot, please visit the following link:
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/horticulture/landscape_ornamentals/crapemyrtle/culture/disease_problems_cercospora_leaf_spot.html