Photograph of Catalpa Tree in spring blossoms Catalpa bignonioides

Close-up photograph of Catalpa Tree showing spring blossoms Catalpa bignonioides

Catalpa bignonioides is easily propagated from seed offered by the GreenDealer selection of Unusual Trees

Catalpa, Indian Bean Tree, Casawba Tree, Cigar Tree
Catalpa bignonioides

Catalpa is a genus of deciduous, hardy, native trees of North America and Asia, belonging to he Bignoniaceae or Bigonia Family. The long stemmed leaves are 6 to 10 inches long, with large white flowers striped with yellow, and slender seed pods up to 10 to 18 inches long. It is an old favorite as a shade tree and because of the large leaves and flowers, it offers a stately, formal and exotic, tropical look to lawns, parks and along streets. It is frequently seen in older neighborhoods where, in decades past, it was one of the most popular shade trees. Its popularity is returning today because of its beautiful large leaves and flowers and because it grows fast providing much shade in reletively short time. Propagation is best in the spring from seed with a little bottom heat provided if starting seeds indoors. Outdoors, after danger of frost is past, loosen up the soil where seed is to be planted and sprinkle a little soil over seeds, rather than digging a hole for them. Cuttings of green wood stems and roots is another method of propagation for this tree. Catalpa is winter hardy in Zones 5-9.

The photographs above were taken in the Highlands, Louisville, Kentucky in June of 1999.

Other species of Catalpa include:

There is a dwarf variety of Catalpa bignonioides called Catalpa bignonioides var. nana and is often incorrectly called Catalpa bungei which is actually another Chinese species.

Catalpa fargesi and Catalpa ovata, both from China There is a popular hybrid of C. bignonioides and C. ovata which is called Catalpa hybrida and has purplish leaves when the tree is young.

Catalpa speciosa or Western Catalpa is more commonly planted in the west and north. It is a fast grower with 12 inch leaves and has 2 inch flowers with brwn spots.

We offer only the seeds of Catalpa bignonioides at this time.

© 1998 Michael King

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