Northern Catalpa
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Average mature size of 40-60' tall and 20-40' wide, up to 100' tall in optimal conditions. Medium-sized tree with an open, irregular crown. Moderate to fast growth rate.

Native Range

Native to southwestern Indiana, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, western Tennessee and northeastern Arkansas. Naturalized throughout much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are white, 2" long and wide, the tube bell-shaped, the lobes spreading and frilled at the margin, the lower lobe with yellow spots. Borne May-June, in large upright terminal panicles, 4-8" long. Fruits are thick-walled, pendulous capsules, 8-20" long, 0.5-0.75" wide, green changing to brown, persisting through winter, containing numerous fringed seeds.

Leaf and Bark Features

Leaves simple, ovate, whorled or opposite, 6-12" long, 3-8" wide, medium green and glabrous above, densely pubescent beneath, petiole 4-6" long. Poor yellow-green to brownish fall color, leaves often fall from tree before changing color. Bark on young stems is smooth or slightly short-downy, reddish to yellowish-brown with large lenticels. Older trunks grayish-brown, usually ridged and furrowed, sometimes thick and scaly.

Culture and Care

Prefers deep, moist, fertile soil, but tolerant of different soil conditions including wet or dry sites, alkaline soil, or extremely hot environments. Sun or part shade. Zones 4-8 (9). Disease and insect problems are usually minor, leaf spots, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, twig blight, root rot and others.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Wood in contact with ground is resistant to rot. Branches and wood are quite brittle, frequently dripping small branches in wind and ice storms.

Suggested Uses

Coarseness lends to limited uses in residential areas, but can be a good option for difficult sites.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA