Catawba Crape Myrtle

Bold purple blooms all summer long, stunning peeling bark in winter — the Catawba Crape Myrtle earns its spot in every season.

The Catawba Crape Myrtle is one of the most beloved flowering trees in the South — and for good reason. It produces massive clusters of vivid purple blooms from early summer through fall, tolerates heat and drought like a champion, and puts on a second show in winter with its gorgeous, peeling cinnamon-colored bark. It's fast-growing, low-maintenance, and absolutely stunning as a specimen, a street tree, or a flowering hedge.

What I love about it

Catawba is the crape myrtle for people who want real color impact. The purple blooms are deep and saturated — not pale lavender, but a true, rich purple that pops against green foliage and holds through the heat of summer when most flowering trees have long since finished. The fall foliage turns brilliant red-orange before dropping to reveal that beautiful exfoliating bark — so this tree is genuinely interesting in all four seasons. It's drought-tolerant once established, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, and grows fast enough to make an impact within a season or two. Plant it where you can see it from inside the house and enjoy the show all summer.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun — 6–8 hours daily; essential for best blooming
• 💧 Water: Drought-tolerant once established; water deeply when young
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to 0°F (Zone 6); thrives in heat and humidity
• 🪴 Difficulty: Very easy — one of the most low-maintenance flowering trees available
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
• ✂️ Pruning: Avoid "crape murder"; light shaping in late winter is all that's needed

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 15–25 ft tall, 10–15 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Bloom Time: Early summer through fall
• Flower Color: Deep purple
• Fall Interest: Red-orange foliage + exfoliating cinnamon bark
• Growing Zone: 6–10