Lagerstroemia indica, the Japanese bungur, or small bungur, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Lagerstroemia in the Lythraceae family. It is native to the Indian subcontinent (hence the species epithet indica), and also to Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. The genus name honors Swedish botanist Magnus von Lagerström. It is a multi-stemmed, deciduous tree with a wide-spreading, flattened, rounded, or even spike-shaped habit. The tree is a popular nesting shrub for songbirds and cicada birds.

In the United States, Lagerstroemia indica is a flowering shrub/small tree that is very popular in mild-winter states (USDA Zones 6–10). In dry climates, it requires supplemental watering and some shade in the hottest areas. The plant must experience hot summers to flower successfully, otherwise it will exhibit weak flowering and be more susceptible to fungal diseases. L. indica is often root hardy to Zone 5 (-10°F/-23°C), meaning it will die back during harsh winters but regrow from the roots and flower in summer. Because of this, Northern gardeners treat it more like an annual than a tree or shrub. Overwatering and overfertilization can reduce cold hardiness by stimulating new growth late in the season that hasn't had time to harden off.

• The bark is thin, about 2 mm thick, smooth, pinkish-grey, and mottled, falling annually.

• The leaves also fall each winter, after a spectacular display of color, and the bare branches re-leaf in early spring; the leaves are small, smooth-edged, circular or oval, and dark green, turning yellow, orange, and red in autumn.

• The flowers, on different trees, are white, pink, mauve, purple, or dark red with crinkled petals, in panicles up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long. The flowers are replaced by brown, dehiscent fruits with 6 capsules.

Propagation is done vegetatively (by cuttings).

Lagerstroemia indica showed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-Alzheimer's, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and antithrombin effects.

The root is astringent, detoxicant, and diuretic.

The stem bark is febrifuge, stimulant, and styptic.

Roots, leaves, and flowers are purgative.

Prevent cancer cells growth, maintain bones health, beneficial for constipation, overcome inflammation, stroke, diabetes, coughing up blood, toothache, diarrhoea, and kidney stone.

Works as antivirus, prevent premature aging, antidote for high blood pressure level, cure for urinary conditions, avoid thrombus, prevent heart attack, prevent arteriosclerosis disease, decrease the level of blood cholesterol, maintain skin health, release toxic from the body.

A paste of the flowers is applied externally to cuts and wounds.

A decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of colds.

In India, decoction of roots considered astringent, used as gargle.

Brevifolin, decarboxy ellagic acid, polyphenolics, tellimagrandin, nilocitin, astralagi, rutin, catechin, terpenoids, tannins, deoxysugars, saponins, flavonoids (flavanones/ dihydroflavonols and chalcones), quercetin, pigenin, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, sterols, triterpenes, anthraquinones, and phenolic glycosides (strosides A–C).