Catawba crape myrtle

Sun

Full sun; allow at least 6 hours of direct sun daily, preferably more.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Well-drained loam, clay or sandy soil; mildly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. Avoid persistently wet ground.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Flowers

Mid-summer to early autumn; dense clusters of deep violet-purple flowers with crinkled petals.

Foliage

Small, oval green leaves, often bronze-tinted when young, turning orange to red in autumn; autumn colour varies with conditions.

Growth

Moderate, faster in warm climates with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   7 ft (2.2 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3 m)

5. After 5 years

   12 ft (3.8 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant in spring in colder areas, choosing a sunny site sheltered from cold winds.
• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; excessive nitrogen encourages leaves at the expense of flowers.
• Remove basal suckers if you want a clear-trunked small tree.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly if necessary. Flowers form on new growth, but do not top the stems or cut the crown back to thick stubs.

Late winter

Inspect the branch framework and remove dead or crossing wood without topping the plant.

Spring

Plant in colder regions once severe frost has passed; refresh mulch around established plants.

Late spring

Wait for buds to open before judging winter damage; crape myrtles often leaf out late.

Summer

Water young plants deeply in dry weather and check leaves and stems for aphids or scale.

Late summer

Enjoy flowering and avoid nitrogen-rich feeding that could encourage soft late growth.

Autumn

Collect fallen diseased leaves and maintain mulch without piling it against the trunks.

• Train as a multi-stemmed specimen beside a patio, leaving room for the mature crown.
• Place behind lower perennials and ornamental grasses to provide height and late-season purple flowers.
• Repeat along a sunny boundary or broad drive for a consistent summer display.
• Use against a warm, sunny wall in cooler regions to improve summer heat and flowering.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Modern courtyard, Traditional, Mediterranean, Pollinator garden and Autumn colour.

Plant it with: Catmint, Russian sage, Salvia, Coneflower, Switchgrass and Lamb's ears.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for bees and other insects. The branching crown offers cover for small birds, although this Asian ornamental is not a substitute for locally native habitat plants.

• Powdery mildew can coat leaves and shoots, especially in shade or crowded planting. Provide full sun and good airflow, and avoid excessive nitrogen feeding.
• Aphids cause sticky honeydew and black sooty mould. Wash small colonies off with water, encourage natural predators and use insecticidal soap if needed.
• Crapemyrtle bark scale, particularly in parts of the United States, appears as white felted patches on stems with honeydew and sooty mould. Confirm identification with a local extension service and follow locally recommended treatment timing.
• Poor flowering or winter dieback usually reflects insufficient summer heat, shade, excessive feeding or cold exposure. Choose the warmest sunny site, feed sparingly and remove dead wood after new growth reveals the damage.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant, not a food crop, and eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

• Other purple-flowered crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia cultivars)

  Flower colour overlaps widely among cultivars. Mature size, flowering time and a reliable nursery label are more dependable than colour alone for identifying 'Catawba'.

• Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

  Lilac usually flowers in spring, has larger, heart-shaped leaves and lacks the smooth, peeling bark of mature crape myrtle.

• Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

  Chaste tree has aromatic leaves divided into narrow leaflets and slender flower spikes rather than broad clusters of crinkled flowers.

Lagerstroemia honours Swedish merchant Magnus von Lagerström, while the cultivar name 'Catawba' refers to the Catawba Native American people.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or hardwood cuttings during dormancy. Seedlings will not reliably retain the characteristics of 'Catawba'.

Accepted botanical name

Lagerstroemia indica

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Measured

Soil pH 5 to 7.5. Average height 670 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.