Catawba Crape Myrtle Tree

Catawba is a compact, deciduous crape myrtle grown as a multi-stem shrub or small tree, with dark purple flower clusters from August into October and glossy leaves that turn orange-red in fall. It is mildew tolerant, reaches about 3.7–4.6 m tall and 2.4–3 m wide, and grows best in full sun with moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil; established plants tolerate heat and drought. [NC State Extension’s Catawba profile](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lagerstroemia-indica-catawba/common-name/catawba-crepe-myrtle/) ## Maintenance Keep new plantings evenly moist and mulch the root zone. Water deeply in prolonged dry spells. Prune in winter or early spring, since flowers form on new growth, and avoid removing too much of the crown. A sunny, open site supports flowering and airflow.