Catalpa trees are deciduous ornamental shade tree diagram with large , heart - shaped foliage , white or yellowed fragrant flowers , and long dangle cum pods . tree in the genusCatalpaare aboriginal to North America . The two most common species are the southerly Indian bean ( Catalpa bignonioides ) and the northern catalpa ( Catalpa speciosa ) . Catalpa trees are also the food reference for catalpa dirt ball .
How to Identify Catalpa Trees
Catalpa Tree are well identified by their scaly grayish , browned barque and an oval crown consisting of big , taper leaves uprise in volute of three . Indian bean have showy , trumpet - shaped bloodless spring blooms . The most placeable catalpa tree feature article is their long , sylphlike cum pod appear in drop and persisting until winter or even spring .
This clause is a guide to identifying the most common species of catalpa tree diagram . picture and descriptions of catalpa leaves , flowers , and come pods will help you recognize various tree species .
About Catalpa Trees – What is a Catalpa Tree?
Catalpa tree is identify by its long and slender come pods
Catalpa is a genus of flowering trees that turn in warm temperate regions of the public . Two species — the northern catalpa and southerly catalpa — are native to North America . The other common type of catalpa tree is the Formosan catalpa ( Catalpa ovata ) , which is aboriginal to China .
Catalpa Tree are typically fast - growing tree diagram that develop between 1 and 2 ft . ( 0.3 – 0.6 m ) per twelvemonth . The ripe height of catalpa trees is usually around 50 ft . ( 15 m ) . Catalpa tree diagram produce for 50 to 150 age .
Catalpa tree metal money turn best in full sun and are adaptable to growing in various soil types .
Most people plant catalpa trees in front or backyards as decorative shade tree . The broadcast rounded canopy is made up of declamatory , generally fondness - shaped leaves . There is also plenty of optic appeal of growing a catalpa tree in a garden landscape . Showy lily-white flowers blossom in saltation , followed by slender seed pods that uprise up to 20 ” ( 50 cm ) long .
Northern catalpa vs. southern catalpa
The two native mintage of the catalpa tree diagram can be challenge to tell asunder . The northern Indian bean is taller than the southerly catalpa and has a narrow , ellipse crown . liken the leafage , the northerly catalpa has larger leaves , measure up to 10 ” ( 25 cm ) long . In demarcation , the southern catalpa ’s leaves are between 4 ” and 8 ” ( 10 – 20 cm ) .
Another name feature of speech of northerly and southern catalpas is the seed pods . Northern catalpa have longer seed pods that can be 24 ” ( 60 cm ) long , while the southerly catalpa has 12 - inch ( 30 - cm ) long seed fuel pod .
Additionally , northerly catalpa are stale - hardier than the southerly species and can grow in USDA zone 4 – 8 . Southern Catalpas are cold - hardy in zones 5 – 9 .
Catawba Worms
Various instar of Catawba worm ( Ceratomia catalpae )
Catawba louse ( Ceratomia catalpae ) are the larvae of the catalpa sphinx moth . The worms feed exclusively on catalpa tree leaves and crunch their way through a tree diagram ’s foliage in a unforesightful time . Catawba worms are prized by southern fisher and are a prime source of Pisces bait in summer .
Also called catalpa louse , thecaterpillars are typically dark - coloredor pitch blackness with a yellowish underside in their last instar . The retentive , plump catawba Caterpillar have black lines of dots on their back as well as dots on their yellow sides . Catawba insect become brownish or grey-haired catalpa sphinx moth after the pupa point .
Catalpa Seed Pods (Bean Pods)
unripened green Catalpa seed seedcase ( will ) and mature brown seed pods ( right )
Northern catalpa and southern catalpatrees are famous for their longsighted podscontaining several seeds or beans . Depending on the species , catalpa ejaculate pod grow between 12 ” and 24 ” ( 30 – 60 atomic number 96 ) long . batch of pods dangle from catalpa trees from descent through wintertime .
The seed cod on catalpa tree bet green and bit by bit work dark brown . The pods hold in wing seeds that float on breezes after the pods split open .
Due to the unusual bean pods , catalpa Tree have various rough-cut names . For example , ‘ cigar tree , ’ ‘ edible bean tree , ’ ‘ Native American cigar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , ’ and ‘ smoking bean tree ’ are a few name for catalpa .
Some citizenry wonder if catalpa tree attic are toxicant . The catalpa seeds in the cigar - like pods are said to be non - toxic . However , people typically do n’t eat the seeds — even though they appear like attic — because they have no observable taste or nutritional content .
Catalpa Leaves
come together up picture show of Catalpa leave
Catalpa trees are known for their broad , triangular - shaped , or heart - shaped leaves . Each leafage has a rounded pedestal at the stem end and a forgetful , pointed crest . Catalpa leaf allowance are bland , with no serration or lobes .
Catalpa leaves often grow in whorls , with three leaves per node . The upper side of the leaves is dark green , and they have a paler green underside . The fall color of northerly catalpa tree diagram is typically xanthous or dark-brown . However , the leaves of both the southerly and northerly species often diminish from trees while still green .
The catalpa ’s large leaves and spread canopy make these idealistic shade trees for residential gardens .
Catalpa Flowers
Catalpa flowers have papery white petals with violet patterns in the center and sensationalistic dots
A beautiful characteristic of catalpa trees is their masses of showy white spring flowers . Catalpa flowers are in the form of a trump or funnel shape and have papery white petal . The white flowers have violet pattern loony toons in the kernel and yellow spots . In mid to late leaping , the clump of flowers cover the tree diagram ’s foliage .
Northern catalpa efflorescence are the first of theCatalpaspecies to blossom in saltation . The white buzzer - mold flowers have empurpled spots and chevron with yellow dots . southerly catalpa flower flower in summertime and wait like the northern catalpa flowers . Chinese catalpa flowers are belittled than the other species and look like orchid peak .
Types of Catalpa Trees (With Pictures)
permit ’s seem in more item at the feature and identifying feature of speech of the three most popular types of catalpa trees .
Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Northern Catalpa tree ( Catalpa speciosa )
The northern catalpa Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a large deciduous wraith tree with immense , heart - regulate leave-taking and clustering of showy white flowers . This catalpa species is known for its narrow , ellipse canopy and open branches . northerly catalpas are the heavy of the mintage and grow between 50 and 70 ft . ( 15 – 21 grand ) marvelous .
Northern catalpa trees turn in USDA zona 4 through 8 . In garden landscapes , the ornamental trees flourish in well - enfeeble , moist , loamy land .
Northern catalpa trees are ideal shade tree for large front or back yards . The spread branch produce a crown of thick foliage between 20 and 50 ft . ( 6 – 15 m ) wide of the mark .
The bark of northern catalpa tree is smooth and gray-headed that becomes glowering greyish - browned and fissures as the tree diagram matures .
The leaves on northerly catalpa trees are ovately shaped with a wide , rounded base and pointed tips . Its leafage are light green in spring and summer and release a slow xanthous color in the fall . Leaves assess up to 12 ” ( 30 atomic number 96 ) long and 8 ” ( 20 cm ) at the wide point .
Catalpa speciosa parting and seed pods
northerly catalpa tree seed pods are the foresightful of the Tree in the genusCatalpa . The seed - containing pea - like capsule assess 8 to 20 ” ( 20 – 50 cm ) long . Immature pods are green and gradually bend dark brownish in the declension . In wintertime , the sag brown seminal fluid fuel pod calculate like dangling icicle .
Catalpa speciosa blossom and leaves
The bloom on the northern catalpa are funnel - work white flowers with ruffled flower petal . The flowers measure out 2 ” ( 5 atomic number 96 ) across and grow in showy clusters . They bloom from late saltation until former summer . Up near , you could see that these catalpa flowers have purple dot patterns and chickenhearted spots in the center .
Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides)
Southern Catalpa tree ( Catalpa bignonioides )
The southern Indian bean tree has an temporary , rounded canopy made up of gist - shaped showy green leave , trumpet - shaped flowers , and pea - like pods . This catalpa specie is smaller than the northerly mintage . It originate between 30 and 60 ft . ( 9 – 18 m ) improbable , and its dull shade canopy is 20 to 40 ft . ( 6 – 12 megabyte ) wide .
southerly catalpa trees thrive in USDA zones 5 through 9 and , like all deciduous trees , drop their leaves in the capitulation . The best stead to grow southern catalpa trees is in full sun or partial wraith and well - drain dirt . Like the northerly catalpa , the southerly metal money maturate good in fertile grime ; however , it ’s adaptable to most land character .
In the southerly states , Catalpa bignonioidesis well - know for the catawba worms . Although these wolfish caterpillars can quick strip a catalpa tree of its foliage , fisher regard the ‘ worm ’ as the best bait for fishing . Some even get catalpa trees to harvest the catawba dirt ball .
The southerly catalpa tree is identifiable by its brown to gray barque . As the liquid barque on immature trees produce , it step by step becomes rough , forming rigid plates .
Southern catalpa leave-taking are a triangle shape with a broadly speaking rounded base and short pointed tip . A characteristic of southerly catalpa leaves is that they utter an unpleasant odor when crushed . Another unequalled feature of the leaf is that they grow nectar through small gland . Southern catalpa leave-taking mensurate 4 ” to 8 ” ( 10 – 20 cm ) recollective and 6 ” to 8 ” ( 15 – 20 cm ) astray .
Catalpa bignonioides folio and seed pod
Like the leaves , the semen capsules on southerly catalpa trees are not as large as the northern species . The foresighted slender seminal fluid pods are around 15 ” ( 37 cm ) long . These brown drooping pea - like seedcase are an interesting lineament of the tree as they wilt from bare branches throughout winter .
Catalpa bignonioides flowers
A striking feature of the southerly catalpa tree diagram is its masses of white conical flower cluster . Each showy flower cluster contains ten to 20 funnel shape - like flowers . Each small white flower has a empurpled rule and yellow - orange point .
Chinese Catalpa (Catalpa ovata)
Chinese Catalpa tree ( Catalpa ovata )
The Taiwanese catalpa is a small - medium deciduous tree with large broadly - ovate lobed folio , little ship’s bell - shaped flowers , and narrow brown seed pod . TheCatalpa ovata — or white-livered catalpa — only grows between 20 and 30 ft . ( 6 – 9 MB ) . Its spread canopy grows up to 30 foot . ( 9 yard ) widely , pretend this species an excellent shadiness tree diagram .
The Formosan catalpa thrives in USDA zones 4 through 8 . The flowering Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree grows best in full sunlight and can withstand grow in wet grime .
Unlike otherCatalpaspecies , the Chinese catalpa has lob leave , giving each blade a wavy margin . Leaves measure up to 10 ” ( 25 cm ) long and the same wide . This tree does n’t have any especial fall leaf colour .
Catalpa ovata leaves
An key out characteristic of the Chinese catalpa is its small orchid - like flowers . These dainty flower flower in late spring , form small conelike flower clusters amongst the light green foliage . Compared to the northern catalpa and southerly species , the Chinese catalpa flowers are not as showy .
Catalpa ovata flowers
The seeded player cod of Taiwanese catalpa are very narrow-minded and are 8″ to 12″ ( 20 – 30 cm ) long .
Catalpa ovata young and mature seed pods
How to Plant a Catalpa Tree
The upright place to implant a catalpa tree is in the sunniest locating of your K . The benefits of growing catalpa trees are that they are fast - grow and thrive in most type of soil . They perform just as well in moist ground as they do in dampish , soggy soil .
It ’s estimable to recollect that the seeds easy spread and can become invading in some regions .
How to Grow a Catalpa Tree from Seed
Southern Catalpa ( Catalpa bignonioides ) seeds
It ’s prosperous to mature catalpa Tree from seminal fluid . The winged seeds are readily available in the fall , where you could collect them from exposed pod . After drying the seeds in a cool , wry billet during wintertime , they are quick for planting in spring .
Before implant catalpa semen in the ground , they require photo to the cold . Place the seeds in a refrigerator for a calendar week or so before you plan to engraft them .
In saltation , plant three or four catalpa seeds in potting soil and cover them with 1 ” ( 2.5 atomic number 96 ) of soil . Put the pocket-sized pots in a shaded place and keep the soil moist but never torpid .
After four to six workweek , the catalpa seedlings should be 2 ” or 3 ” ( 5 – 7.5 cm ) grandiloquent and have a duo of leaves . Transplant each catalpa seedling to a large , 3 ” ( 7.5 atomic number 96 ) pot with sweet , loose potting soil . Place the pot seedlings in a sheltered location outdoors and grow in heap during the first winter .
The young catalpa trees are ready for planting in the ground the follow spring or summer .
How to Care for a Catalpa Tree
Indian bean trees acquire well in sunny location and can tolerate wide mountain chain of territory types and conditions
Catalpa tree diagram are bouncy ornamental landscaping trees that fly high in most condition . The lavish unripe leaf , showy white flower clustering , and dangling slender brown source pods give the tree class - long interest .
Here are some peak on how to manage for northerly catalpa or southerly catalpa tree :
Light : turn a catalpa Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in a sunny positioning where it begin around six time of day of sunshine . These tree are also tolerant of partial ghost .
Soil : Indian bean trees adjust to most soil types and develop in acidic or alkaline grime . to boot , the great deciduous shadowiness Tree rise in mud , loamy , arenaceous , moist , and well - draining ground .
Water : Indian bean trees have average water need and can support a wide of the mark range of soil conditions — from casual flooding to short periods of drought .
Temperature and humidity : Cold hardy to zone 4 and 5 , northern and southern catalpa Tree can resist cold and extremely spicy conditions .
Pruning : Indian bean trees only necessitate prune to remove idle , unkept , or morbid arm . It ’s also necessary to remove any fifth wheel from the crown as the brittle forest easily breaks off in strong winds .
Pests Affecting Catalpa Trees
The catalpa insect ( Ceratomia catalpae ) is the primary pest affecting the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s emergence . If not control , thecaterpillarscan defoliate a tree diagram in a few months .
To get free of catalpa worms , agitate the branches vigorously , so they drop to the priming coat . If the tree is low , you’re able to spray it withneem oil , insecticidal soap or Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ) which isa bacteria used as a biological pesticide . you could also till the soil around the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in fall or other springiness to kill the pupae .
Other common pests affect trees in the genusCatalpainclude aphids , mealybugs , andJapanese beetle . Caring for catalpa trees properly to ensure healthy , vigorous growth is the honorable way to protect them from cuss damage .
To reduce the number of Japanese beetle in your garden , please read this clause onhow to get rid of lawn grub .
Disease Affecting Catalpa Tree Growth
Powdery mildewis a typical fungal disease affecting foliage on catalpa Tree . This white-hot flour - like substance is n’t harmful to the tree ’s leave . However , it can make the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree look unsightly and sick .
Verticillium wilt disease is another fungal disease regard catalpa trees . Signs of this tree disease include yellow leaves that turn brown and fall down off . In some cases , increasing nitrogen levels in the soil can help reestablish healthy growing .
Things to Consider When Growing a Catalpa
Northern catalpa ( Catalpa speciosa ) and southerly catalpa ( Catalpa bignonioides ) trees are loose to grow in most landscapes . With minimal care , you may have a magnanimous spook tree in your backyard that flowers every spring .
The most significant affair to think about when growing a catalpa is the cleanup .
Indian bean trees incline to be messy Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that shed a freight of large leaves in the declension . Also , in spring , the long ejaculate pods drop and cause more mess . What ’s more , the flowers and cum cod can be slippery and need clearing from sidewalk and driveways .
Some catalpa species are unique in that their leave of absence get sticky nectar . This can drip onto parked vehicles , will behind an unsightly viscid remainder .
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