SHREVEPORT, La. – Tucked behind Akins Nursery on East Kings Highway in Shreveport stands a towering natural marvel: the largest single-trunk crape myrtle in the United States.
The tree, affectionately named Bayou View, has long been considered the largest crape myrtle in Louisiana, but recent measurements now confirm it is the largest in the country.
Jennifer McGimsey, owner of Akins Nursery, proudly shared the story of this local giant.
“For many years, it was believed to be the tallest or the largest in Louisiana,” McGimsey said. “Some recent measurements suggest it is actually bigger than its sister in North Carolina, so it is now the largest in the nation.”
Planted in the mid-1950s by E.P. Akin, the nursery’s founder, Bayou View is one of five seedlings brought back from Japan. While the four “sisters” were planted in North Carolina, Bayou View found its forever home along the bayou in Shreveport, where it has thrived for nearly 70 years.
Though crape myrtles are common across the South, McGimsey says this one is unlike the rest.
“Aside from the size, it’s really different. It’s a completely different species,” she explained. “The varieties we plant today are hybrids designed to bloom longer and stay smaller — more residential friendly.”
While most crape myrtles in yards and cityscapes can bloom for up to 180 days, Bayou View shows off her pink blooms for just one to two weeks each year. Still, her size and age make her a standout.