Why Horticulturists Spell It "Crapemyrtle" and "Bermudagrass"

Is it "crepe myrtle" or "crape myrtle"? The answer reveals how plant professionals prioritize clarity over convention. Most horticulturists, following Dr. Michael Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, write it as one word: crapemyrtle. The same goes for bermudagrass—one word, no capital "B" unless starting a sentence.

Consistency Over Custom

Newspaper editors follow style guides that often split these names ("Bermuda grass," "crape myrtle"). But professionals use unified spellings to avoid confusion. "Bermudagrass" has nothing to do with the island; it's a genus name (Cynodon) treated as a compound word. Splitting it implies a geographic connection that doesn't exist.

Why It Matters

Standardized spelling helps gardeners find accurate information. When you search "crapemyrtle," you get university extension pages and nursery catalogs. Search "crape myrtle" and you might land on blog posts with varying reliability. For a deeper dive into horticultural nomenclature, see bit.ly/crapename.

Bottom line: Use the one-word forms when researching or buying. You'll speak the language of the experts.