Catawba Crape Myrtle Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on October 14, 2022

Planting instructions

Site your tree in soil that drains well and receives at least 6 hours of sun each day. Unpot the tree and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the tree in the hole, spreading out the roots. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around the roots with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch such as bark chips around the root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth, but keep it from touching the trunk to avoid problems with rot.

Watering and nutrients

When newly planted, water your Catawba tree every few days until you begin to see robust new growth on the branches. Then scale back to once-a-week watering, giving your tree about an inch of water at a time. Once your tree is established, it will only need supplemental watering when it is very hot or dry outside. Fertilize in spring with a balanced, slow-release product, such as a 10-10-10 formula that’s designed for landscape trees and shrubs.

Pollination

Crape myrtle trees are monoecious, meaning that a single tree has both male and female reproductive parts in its flowers. The flowers are pollinated by insects such as bees and butterflies, leading to small brown seed pods late in the season.

Pruning

Monitor your Catawba Crape Myrtle for dead, diseased or damaged limbs and cut them out whenever you see them. If you wish to grow your plant as a single-trunked tree, prune out all but one main trunk, as well as any suckers that appear near the base of the tree. No other pruning is necessary, but you can prune to shape it or control the height and width in spring.

Pests and diseases

Pests that may prey on crape myrtles include crape myrtle aphids and Japanese beetles. A healthy tree can fight off most infestations. Beetles can be picked off by hand or use a trap specific to this pest. Aphids can be controlled by releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings. Catawba Crape Myrtle is resistant to powdery mildew, the most common crape myrtle disease. Plant your tree in a spot with good circulation and prune to keep the center open to avoid problems with fungal diseases.

Achieving maximum results

Catawba Crape Myrtle grows beautifully outdoors in the Southern states and West Coast, but if you live in the North, it’s still easy to grow this impressive variety in a container that is brought indoors in the winter. Even in the South, a container-grown Catawba can be a great patio plant, or you can use two to flank a front door. Container growing isn’t difficult. Choose a pot that is about twice the size of the root ball, with good drainage holes in the bottom. Use a good quality potting mix and plant as per our directions above. Keep in mind that a pot-grown plant may need more supplemental watering than one grown in the ground, and make sure to fertilize your tree every year. A container-grown tree is unlikely to get as big as one grown in the ground, but you can keep it to a manageable height by regular pruning.

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