Crape Myrtle of Yangjeong-dong, Busan

The crape myrtle belongs to the loosestrife family and is native to China. Its flowers bloom red or white from July to September, and its fruit ripens in October. Because it blooms for so long it is also called "hundred-day red" (baegilhong), or sometimes "tree hundred-day red" (mok-baegilhong) to distinguish it from the unrelated aster-family plant of the same nickname. Our forebears also believed this tree brought wealth and prosperity. The two crape myrtles of Yangjeong-dong grow in Hwaji Park, 1.5 km from Yangjeong subway station in Busanjin-gu. They are estimated to be about 800 years old (as of designation); the western tree stands 8.5 m tall and the eastern tree 7.5 m tall. Tradition holds that, about 800 years ago in the mid-Goryeo period, one tree was planted on each side of the grave of the founding ancestor of the Dongnae Jeong clan, who had held the honorary retired post of district headman (anil hojang). Over time the original trunks died, but the surrounding branches survived and grew on as if they were separate trees, giving rise to the pair seen today. The crape myrtles of Yangjeong-dong, Busan were planted beside the grave of the Dongnae Jeong clan's founding ancestor to honour him and to pray for the wealth and prosperity of his descendants, giving them great cultural value; as exceptionally old specimens of the species, they also carry great biological conservation value. They are accordingly designated and protected as a natural monument.

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Where it is

Region

Busanjin-gu, Busan

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물