Catalpa Tree Flowers

Catalpa Tree Flowers

Northern Catalpa Tree, Catalpa speciosa, Commonly called Catawba, is a genus of flowering plants in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae, this is a tree that demands your attention. It produces clusters of large, trumpet-shaped, white, showy, somewhat fragrant, flowers in May and June, and begins flowering about 7 years after planting. With Giant heart-shaped leaves, dangling bean-like seed pods, and uniquely twisting trunk and branches, the northern catalpa grows to a height of 40–60' and a spread of 20–40' at maturity. Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree. Due to their large leaf size, Catalpas provide very dark shade and are a popular habitat for many birds, providing them good shelter from rain and wind. These trees have very little limb droppage, but drop large, dark brown bean pods that are 8–20" long and ¼–½" wide, starting out green and turning brownish as they ripen, during late summer. They are filled with numerous, 1" long seeds that are fringed at the ends.

The bean-like seed pod is the origin of the alternative names Indian Bean Tree and Cigar Tree for Catalpa bignonioides and Catalpa speciosa.

The tree is the sole source of food for the Catalpa Sphinx moth (Ceratomia catalpae), the leaves being eaten by the caterpillars.

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