Catawba Crape Myrtle, a small flowering tree, has long-lasting dark purple flowers that appear in the late summer. With bronze-colored new leaves in the spring, its brilliant orange-red fall color, coupled with its interesting smooth bark makes for great year-round interest. It can be trained as a single trunk though its tendency is toward a multitrunked habit. It has been bred to be mildew resistant. Pruning should be completed in winter or early spring, as this plant blooms on new wood. A layer of organic mulch will help keep the plant retain moisture. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and scales are potential insects. Potential diseases include leaf spots and powdery mildew. In hardiness zones 5 to 6, the tree or shrub is susceptible to winter injury, especially any top growth. Be aware that the flowers can stain walkways or the paint of your car. Avoid planting near a walkway or driveway. More information on Lagerstroemia indica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 14 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-trunked; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Hairs present
No
Fall color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Long-lasting; Showy
Flower detail
Large, long-lasting crepe-like purple flowers appear in the late summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Bark detail
Bark is smooth, attractive multicolored bark
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Mass Planting; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#flowering tree #large flowers #showy flowers #deciduous #interesting bark #fall interest #small tree #flowers late summer #year-round interest #cottage garden #winter interest #purple flowers #deciduous tree #fall color red #fall color orange
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Crapemyrtle Aphid; Crape Myrtle Pest Management Calendar; Crapemyrtle Flea Beetle; Pests of Crape Myrtle; Crapemyrtle Bark Scale