Rich Purple Blooms, Spring to Fall Why Catawba Crape Myrtle Trees? Brilliant purple blooms take center stage on the Catawba Crape Myrtle, making this flowering variety a fresh favorite, especially in California. Dark purple flowers take hold from spring through fall every year, with rich clusters of blossoms that sit upright on the branches. Because of the blooms' density, branches may even bend from their weight, which gives the tree a gorgeous cascading appearance. The incredible purple hue of each petal perfectly contrasts against the limbs and emerald green leaves. That's not all, either: fall appeal is the name of the game with Catawba. As fall begins and Catawba's vibrant blossom display is coming to a close, gleaming autumn foliage takes hold. The Catawba Crape Myrtle's leaves yield eye-catching shades of reddish-bronze, orange and yellow. Best of all, the Catawba Crape Myrtle is versatile and easy to grow in california. You can trim and train this Crape into countless designs to fit your garden. Catawbas can be trained to grow in more of a bushy, vase-like shape that shows off its natural form and multi-branching habit, or it can be trained to grow in a single, more tree-like state with very little effort. Planted in groups or posing alone, it's destined to be the centerpiece of your landscape. We've nurtured this plant to perfection, so it will be ready to light up your landscape as soon as you plant it. Ethereal elegance is just a click away - order yours today! Planting & Care 1. Planting: Crapes are full sun lovers, so try and find a spot where they will get as much as possible. Other than that, the Catawba prefers well-drained soil. Dig your hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Lightly comb your hands over the root ball to free up the roots a bit before planting. Place your tree in the hole and make sure that the root crown (where the root ball meets the trunk(s) of the tree) is level with the soil surface. Mulch the area around the tree to conserve water moisture and deter competing weeds. 2. Watering: Myrtles are drought tolerant but may need a bit more attention with watering during the hot summer season. Depending on your soil, you may need to water more frequently. If you're not sure when to water, however, simply check your surrounding soil about 3 inches down. 3. Fertilizing: Your Catawba Crape will greatly benefit from a light application of a complete, balanced, slow-release fertilizer formula in the early spring and summer seasons. 4. Pruning: Remove all but 4 to 5 strong trunks and then remove the lateral branches around the bottom half of the tree. To encourage branching, make your cuts on the longer, leggy limbs.
