A 6-foot crepe myrtle typically costs $60-$250 for the plant, or about $180-$600 with delivery and professional planting. The final price depends mainly on container size, cultivar, local nursery stock, access, and whether the quote includes soil preparation and hauling.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-foot crepe myrtle plant | $60 | $140 | $250 | Nursery price before delivery or planting |
| Delivery | $25 | $65 | $150 | Depends on distance and minimum order |
| Professional planting | $75 | $180 | $350 | Standard soil and accessible yard |
| Typical installed total | $160 | $385 | $750 | One tree, excluding major site work |
| Plant price per foot of height | $10 | $23 | $42 | Approximate comparison, not a nursery billing unit |
How Much Does a 6-Foot Crepe Myrtle Cost?
A 6-foot crepe myrtle costs about $60-$250 at a garden center or landscape nursery. A common midrange price is $100-$175 for a healthy, established plant in a 5- to 15-gallon container. Specialty cultivars, unusually full branching, and larger root balls can push the plant-only price above $250.
For one tree installed by a landscaper, a practical budget is $180-$600, with roughly $350-$450 typical when delivery, planting, and basic cleanup are included. A quote near the high end may reflect a larger root ball, long delivery distance, difficult digging, or a premium cultivar rather than height alone.
For budgeting, separate the nursery price from delivery and planting; “6 feet” does not specify root-ball size or plant fullness.
Assumptions: One standard cultivar, ordinary access, average U.S. labor rates, and no irrigation or major soil correction.
What Nursery Stock, Labor, and Delivery Add to the Quote
Planting estimates vary with the nursery’s container size and the work included. A 6-foot specimen can be tall and narrow in a smaller pot or have a broader root system in a heavier container. The following ranges describe a single tree on an accessible residential property.
| Quote component | Low | Average | High | What changes the charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant material | $60 | $140 | $250 | Cultivar, container, branching, availability |
| Labor | $75 | $180 | $350 | Digging, crew minimum, access, soil |
| Delivery | $25 | $65 | $150 | Distance, order size, unloading needs |
| Soil amendments and mulch | $10 | $35 | $80 | Compost, mulch depth, soil condition |
| Removal and disposal | $0 | $35 | $100 | Old shrub, sod, or excess soil removal |
Landscapers may quote a minimum service charge rather than an hourly rate for a single tree. If labor is itemized, rates commonly fall around $50-$100 per worker-hour, while a crew may complete a straightforward planting in 1-2 hours.
Check whether the quote includes delivery, amendments, mulch, watering, and disposal before comparing totals.
Planting typically does not require a building permit, but local rules may restrict planting near sidewalks, utilities, easements, or street trees. Confirm underground utility locations before digging; a contractor may charge separately for locating or hand-digging around marked lines.
How Container Size, Cultivar, and Root Ball Change Price
Height is only one part of nursery grading. Container volume and root development influence handling and establishment, so two plants listed at 6 feet can have quite different prices. A 5-gallon plant may be easier to transport and cost less than a 15-gallon specimen, even if the measured height is similar.
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Smaller container: A 5-gallon, 6-foot plant often costs $60-$120. It is lighter and usually suits a simple planting hole, though the canopy may be less full.
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Mid-size container: A 10- to 15-gallon plant commonly costs $100-$200. It often offers a fuller appearance and a more substantial root system, with higher delivery and handling charges.
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Large root ball or specialty stock: A 20-gallon or unusually mature specimen may cost $175-$300 or more. The extra weight can require two workers, a wider hole, or equipment access.
Cultivar also matters. Popular selections may be readily available, while named varieties chosen for flower color, mature size, mildew resistance, or cold tolerance can carry a premium of $20-$75. A cultivar’s mature spread and height should be checked before buying; a 6-foot nursery plant can eventually become a much larger tree or shrub.
Compare container gallons, canopy width, and cultivar—not just the advertised height.
Root-bound, damaged, or recently pruned stock may be a poor value even at a lower price. Ask when the plant was potted, inspect the trunk and branching, and look for signs of healthy foliage and a stable root ball. Nursery guarantees differ; replacement protection may be limited to a short period or require proof of proper watering.
Does Yard Access or Soil Preparation Raise Planting Labor?
A routine planting in workable soil usually falls near the lower labor range. Dense clay, compacted fill, construction debris, steep slopes, and narrow gates can make excavation slower. If a 10- to 15-gallon container cannot be wheeled close to the planting spot, workers may carry it by hand, adding $25-$100 or more.
Hole size should suit the root ball, not the tree’s height. For a root ball about 18 inches wide, the planting hole is generally made wider than the ball and no deeper than its root flare. A very large hole, removal of buried debris, or replacement of poor soil can add $50-$200 depending on volume and labor.
Site complications can turn a modest plant purchase into a higher labor quote even when the tree itself is inexpensive.
Ask the contractor to state whether the price covers utility-safe digging, backfill, initial watering, staking if needed, and cleanup. Staking is not automatically necessary; it is usually considered when the root ball is unstable or the site is exposed to wind. If a quote includes several yards of imported soil for one tree, request the reason and quantity in writing.
Mulch and watering are modest expenses but affect establishment. A few bags of mulch commonly add $10-$35 in materials, while a hose or existing irrigation may avoid additional setup charges. A new drip line or irrigation adjustment is separate work and can add $50-$250 or more depending on the distance and system.
How Long Does a One-Tree Installation Take?
A two-person crew commonly spends about 1-2 hours planting one accessible 6-foot crepe myrtle, not counting travel or delivery. A difficult site, heavy container, old shrub removal, or soil replacement can extend the job to 2-4 hours. Contractors may still charge a half-day or minimum visit fee, especially for a one-item appointment.
Labor estimates may be presented as a flat amount or as workers multiplied by hours and hourly rate. For example, two workers for 1.5 hours at $60-$90 per worker-hour implies $180-$270 in labor before any minimum charge or disposal fee.
Scheduling several landscape tasks together can reduce the effective travel and setup cost per tree.
Delivery timing matters when the nursery and installer are separate businesses. A missed delivery window or a second trip can add $25-$100, while a contractor collecting the plant may include pickup in the installation price. Confirm who is responsible for receiving the tree and keeping the root ball moist if planting is delayed.
What Regional Prices Look Like Across the United States
Prices vary with local wages, nursery supply, freight, and climate. In the Southeast, where crepe myrtles are widely grown, plant selection is often broad and plant-only prices may run 5%-15% below the national middle range. A standard installed tree may total $160-$450 when access is easy and stock is locally available.
In the Northeast and upper Midwest, seasonal availability and shipping can raise the plant portion by about 10%-25%. A typical installed price may fall around $250-$650, and planting is generally scheduled after the ground is workable and before intense summer heat. Cold tolerance should be considered by cultivar and local growing conditions.
Urban labor and delivery commonly cost more than the same planting in an accessible suburban or rural yard.
In dense cities or high-cost coastal markets, installed totals may be 15%-35% above a national midpoint because of labor, parking, access, and delivery constraints. Rural locations can have lower labor rates but higher travel or minimum charges. These are planning differences, not fixed regional tariffs; local quotes may fall outside the ranges.
Ask for a quote based on the specific address and planting location. Regional differences can be smaller than the effect of a 20-gallon plant, a difficult carry, or a contractor’s minimum charge. Comparing at least two itemized estimates is more useful than applying a broad regional percentage to a nursery tag.
Is a Smaller Crepe Myrtle Better Value Than a 6-Foot Tree?
A smaller 3- to 4-foot crepe myrtle commonly costs $25-$90 for the plant and $100-$350 installed. It is easier to transport and dig in, but may take longer to create the desired visual effect. A 6-foot plant often costs $60-$250 and provides more immediate presence, while a larger 8- to 10-foot specimen may cost $175-$450 before installation.
Price alone does not determine establishment success. Smaller container plants can adapt well when watered correctly, and they avoid some handling fees. A larger tree can be worth the extra expense where immediate screening or a finished landscape is important, but it should fit the planting space at mature size.
Compare installed cost and expected mature dimensions rather than paying extra for height that the site cannot accommodate.
Repair is not a direct substitute if an existing crepe myrtle is healthy and simply has uneven growth. Corrective pruning by a qualified arborist or landscaper may cost $100-$350 for a small tree, depending on access and scope. Severe topping can damage the plant and create future maintenance; a low-cost pruning quote is not necessarily a sound alternative to appropriate care.
Which Add-Ons Can Push the Installed Total Higher?
Old shrub removal, stump grinding, or hauling can add $50-$250 or more, depending on size and disposal distance. Removing a small shrub is much less expensive than extracting a mature root system. If the planting spot is already clear, confirm that the quote does not include removal that is not needed.
Soil amendments may add $10-$80 for a single planting, but extensive soil replacement can cost more. Many plants do not need a heavily amended planting hole; ask what soil problem the amendment addresses. Replacement of a sprinkler head, relocation of a line, or installation of new irrigation is usually priced separately.
Request written prices for removal, soil work, irrigation, staking, and warranty coverage before approving extras.
Delivery minimums can be a significant share of a one-tree purchase. A nursery may charge $25-$150 depending on distance and whether the truck can unload near the planting area. Some suppliers waive or reduce delivery when the order includes multiple plants, but adding unnecessary plants rarely saves money overall.
Warranty terms also affect value. Some nurseries offer a 30- to 90-day replacement guarantee, while others provide no guarantee on installed plants. Check exclusions for drought, improper watering, extreme weather, and damage, and confirm whether replacement labor is included. A plant replacement that excludes labor may still require another $75-$250 installation charge.
How to Keep a 6-Foot Crepe Myrtle Quote Under Control
Choose a healthy, readily stocked cultivar in a suitable container rather than paying a premium for a rare variety or oversized root ball. Compare two or three local nurseries using the same cultivar, container gallons, and delivery terms. A difference of $30-$75 on the plant can be meaningful, but the lowest tag price may not include a healthy root system or a return policy.
The most reliable savings come from controlling scope, avoiding duplicate fees, and comparing equivalent plants.
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Have the planting area cleared before the crew arrives, if safe and practical, and confirm that debris removal is not already included.
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Ask whether delivery can be bundled with other planned landscape materials, but compare the final order total rather than the discount alone.
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Request separate prices for plant, delivery, labor, soil amendments, mulch, removal, and irrigation so optional work is visible.
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Schedule during ordinary nursery availability instead of requesting urgent delivery or a narrow same-day window.
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Do not pay for a larger tree or staking package without a clear site-specific reason.
For a straightforward job, an itemized quote around $250-$450 is often reasonable for one 6-foot tree, delivery, and planting. A $600-$750 estimate may still be justified by a large container, difficult access, premium stock, removal, or higher local labor costs. Ask the provider to explain any substantial difference between the estimate and the listed scope.
Assumptions: Price ranges are planning estimates for U.S. residential work, not guaranteed local bids. Sales tax, where applicable, may add roughly 0%-10% to taxable plant or material purchases.