Can You Burn Crape Myrtles? Do They Make Good Firewood? - RootingForBlooms.com (2024)

If you live where Crape Myrtle grows very well (like in the south), you no doubt see these blooming trees everywhere. Whether you’re going camping, sitting around a backyard fire pit, or need some wood for your fireplace, you may be wondering if Crape Myrtle’s limbs make good firewood.

You can burn Crape Myrtles easily as long as the wood is dry. Crape Myrtles make for decent outdoor firewood because they burn easily and don’t have much sap or resin. There are plenty of other trees that are better for firewood than Crapes, but it will work in a pinch.

So, even though you can burn Crape Myrtle for firewood, it doesn’t mean that you necessarily should. But, if you need to make a fire and have some Crape Myrtle limbs, throwing them on the pile won’t hurt.

Does Crape Myrtle Make Good Firewood?

Crape Myrtle makes good firewood when it’s clean and dry. However, pretty much any kind of wood can make for decent firewood under those conditions. The best firewood comes from hardwood trees like beech, hickory, mahogany, oak, walnut, and maple.

Crape Myrtle is also a hardwood tree, technically, but it burns more like a softwood. Softwood ignites and burns quickly and usually gives off more smoke than hardwoods. Softwoods include trees like pines, cypress, and firs.

Crape Myrtle will ignite quickly and give off a short burst of heat before dying down and smoldering. You would need to have some bigger, denser Crape Myrtle limbs and branches for them to burn the same way as other hardwoods.

So, many people use small limbs and branches (like those from Crape Myrtles) to get their fire started, then they use larger hardwood logs to keep the fire going. This is a good method that works well in outdoor fire pits and campfires.

If you have large Crape Myrtle logs, you may want to split them so they can dry out faster. Crape Myrtle is notoriously difficult to split when compared to other hardwood logs. Take special care when trying to chop and split Crape Myrtle logs. It’s easier to do once the wood has some time to season (and dry out). It typically takes 8-12 months to season Crape Myrtle wood, though it may be less time if the limbs and branches are smaller or if they dry out faster.

Can You Burn Crape Myrtle Limbs?

Even if you’re not actively trying to make a fire, you may just want to burn your yard trash. Crape Myrtle limbs will burn if you light them, and you can burn them fairly easily though it burns quicker than some other hardwoods. Gathering up a pile of Crape Myrtle limbs and branches will give you some materials to get your fire going, but you shouldn’t count on it being enough to sustain your fire for too long. You’ll need some larger, more dense logs to keep your flames going.

You shouldn’t burn your Crape Myrtle limbs if they’re still green inside. Freshly cut wood is mostly water, sap, and resin, which doesn’t burn very well. It will be more difficult to light and produce far more smoke than dry limbs.

Is Crape Myrtle Toxic or Poisonous to Burn?

Crape Myrtle wood is safe to burn, especially in outdoor settings. It’s classified as a non-toxic plant. However, you should avoid burning Crape Myrtle leaves, as they may contain irritants that could release into the air when you burn them.

Because of the tendency for more smoke than other hardwoods, we don’t recommend using Crape Myrtle in your home’s fireplace. But there’s nothing inherently dangerous about burning Crape Myrtle limbs. In fact, some people have even reported using Crape Myrtle for cooking or smoking foods.

Does Crape Myrtle Burn Well, or Is It Fire Retardant?

Crape Myrtle burns pretty well, but its flame will be short-lived. Even though it’s a hardwood tree, it burns quickly like a softwood tree and produces quite a bit of smoke. Crape Myrtle isn’t fire retardant but doesn’t burn as quickly as something like pine wood.

Crape Myrtle has a moderate amount of moisture and sap within the limbs and branches, so the amount of smoke may be surprising for the small amount of wood. Still, the smoke isn’t usually as thick and potent as some other softwoods.

Can You Burn Crape Myrtle in a Fireplace?

It’s possible to burn Crape Myrtle in an indoor fireplace, but it’s certainly not the best choice. The advantages are that it ignites quickly and is probably readily available if you live in a place where the tree grows well. However, there are some disadvantages as well.

The biggest problem with burning Crape Myrtle wood in your fireplace is the amount of smoke. Crape Myrtle wood doesn’t burn clean like some of the other logs commonly used in residential fireplaces. Still, it’s not so smoky that it would pose a danger to use in your fireplace. If you decide to burn Crape Myrtle wood indoors, be sure that you have proper ventilation and that your fireplace is operating properly.

Even though it has a moderate amount of moisture and sap, Crape Myrtle wood doesn’t pop and spark like some other similar limbs and branches. So long as you remove any leaves and foliage from the wood, you should be able to burn Crape Myrtle in your fireplace safely. Still, it shouldn’t be your top choice for indoor burning if you can avoid it.

Many people compare Crape Myrtle to pine wood in terms of burning characteristics and quality. However, Crape Myrtle typically burns better than pine, with higher temperatures and longer burn times than even higher quality pine logs. So, while Crape Myrtle might not be the best choice, it’s certainly not the worst.

Can You Cook or Smoke With Crape Myrtle Wood?

Crape Myrtle wood isn’t toxic or dangerous, so it’s possible to use it for cooking over your campfire or even smoking meats. Still, it’s not commonly used. Crape Myrtle wood will add subtle flavor to your BBQ, but you’ll have to take care to use dry wood and remove all the leaves and foliage. You don’t want smoke from the green parts of the plant in your food.

In addition, Crape Myrtle isn’t as dense as some of the other woods used for cooking, so it will not burn as hot and for as long. But, if you’re just cooking some hot dogs or roasting marshmallows, it should work just fine.

Final Thoughts

Crape Myrtle will burn pretty well, making it a decent firewood option if you have an abundance of it or if you don’t have any other options. It ignites quickly and produces a good amount of heat while it burns, but it won’t last very long. So, it might not be your best choice for keeping warm on a cold night.

You can safely burn Crape Myrtle limbs, but you should try to remove the leaves and foliage if possible. Or, at the very least, stay out of the smoke while it’s burning. Even though it’s not poisonous or dangerous, some people have reported skin or eye irritation from the leaves.

It’s always best to use caution when burning fresh woods inside your home. You don’t want to burn green wood or logs with excessive sap or resin content, as it will be extremely smoky and won’t burn clean. Since Crape Myrtle is a hardwood, it has only a moderate amount of sap inside, but it will still produce some smoke while burning. So, it’s not the best choice for your indoor fireplace, but it can be used if necessary. Just make sure your fireplace is vented properly and monitor smoke levels at all times.

In any case, never leave a fire unattended, no matter what kind of wood you’re using.