Investigating Producers’ Preferences for Crapemyrtle and Their Perceptions Regarding Crapemyrtle Bark Scale

Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) is the most popular summer flowering tree in U.S. Its total value sold has almost doubled since 1998. Consumers prize crapemyrtles for their beauty and being relatively pest free. However, current crapemyrtle production use might be affected by bark scale (CMBS; Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae), which been confirmed at least 14 states after its first sighting Texas 2004. In this study, we conducted interviews of business representatives. Our survey results indicate that producers anticipate a significant decrease if infested with CMBS, suggest industry demand CMBS control. An important finding our research majority businesses support science-based control research. Another from study believed benefits outweigh costs. We used relative importance index to illustrate ranking different attributes consider while making decisions about growing/purchasing plants. Flower color was found attribute, followed disease resistance. The landscape plants can potentially serve as alternatives crapemyrtle, opinion surveyed, are Vitex agnus-castus (Texas lilac), Magnolia spp., Hibiscus spp.