USDA PLANTS Database. Catalpa bignonioides It has showy blossoms that appear in the spring, followed by bean-like seed pods. Additionally, modern research show that catalpa … Smooth leaf edge. Catalpa speciosa (Northern Catalpa) grows in a loose oval, 50 feet tall in most urban locations, but occasionally grows to 90 feet (Fig. long (30 cm). 3. It can reach a diameter of 76 centimeters (30 inches) or more. Catalpas prefer moist, deep, well drained soil, but adapts to dry or wet soils. Northern catalpa. The dark green leaves are large and cordate (heart shaped). Phonetic Spelling kah-TAL-pah speh-see-OH-sah Description. Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) Two large Northern Catalpa trees (also known as Indian Bean Tree or Cigar Tree) are found near the Juniper Collection, east of the Arboretum Program Shelter. Mature Spread: The Northern Catalpa has a spread of about 20' - 40' at full maturity. The northern catalpa is pruned for the following reasons: to cut away any broken or diseased branches, to manage its place within your landscape, to provide clearance around walkways, structures, and roofs, and to remove deadwood. northern catalpa, catawba tree, indian cigar tree, helicopter tree, hardy catalpa. Winged seed. Catalpa speciosa grows much taller than Southern Catalpa and its panicle flowers are typically white. Fall color is insignificant, leaves sometimes drop while still green. Northern catalpa is a member of the Bignoniaceae, the Bignonia or Catalpa family. The Tree is a deciduous tree, it will be up to 20 m (66 ft) high. It is native to the mid-western United States however it is widely planted as a ornamental species in Canada. Fruit capsule up to 40 cm (15,75 in) long, narrow, first green then dark brown pods. Northern catalpa is a member of the Bignoniaceae, the Bignonia or Catalpa family. The petiole is long and the leaf arrangement is alternate. The wood is light, soft, weak, coarse-grained, durable, light-brown with paler sapwood. This catalpa is native to North America and it blooms in summer. Botanical name: Catalpa speciosa Family: Bignoniaceae. The Division of Forestry promotes and applies management for the sustainable use and protection of Ohio’s private and public forest lands. The leaf margin is smooth. The following characteristics can be used to distinguish Northern Catalpa from its more southern sibling: 1) its crushed leaves do not have an unpleasant scent, 2) its flowers are slightly larger in size with fewer purple spots, 3) it tends to have fewer flowers per panicle, 4) it has slightly longer and wider seedpods, 5) for mature trees, its trunk bark is more furrowed, and 6) both tips of its seeds are blunt, rather than … This coarse, large leaved tree spreads 50 feet and tolerates hot, dry weather, but leaves may scorch and some drop from the tree in very dry summers. Flower arrangement, shape, and size It is adapted to moist, high pH soil and full sun, but has been able to grow almost anywhere in North America. Photo © David D. Taylor 2013. Although it has naturalized in many … Catalpa have a wind damage risk in old age. This tree can withstand a range of soil types, including wet and dry conditions, which makes it useful in difficult sites such as … Native; Deciduous; 35-75 feet in height; Up to 3′ in diameter; Bark is furrowed Crown 25-45′ wide; Huge heart-shaped, that grow late in the spring The appearance of the leaves sometimes causes confusion with species such as the unrelated tung tree (Vernicia fordii) and Paulownia tomentosa. The northern catalpa grows to a height of 40–60' and a spread of 20–40' at maturity. You can't reliably tell the difference between Northern and Southern Catalpa by leaf shape, though Northern is supposed to have slightly more long-pointed leaves. The Northern Catalpa is a larger tree with a thinner leaf and a longer point on its valentine shaped leaf. Bark detail. Winged seeds in fruit. It is widely planted as an ornamental tree. They are fast growers and a 10-year-old sapling may stand about 6 metres (20 ft) tall. The biggest northern catalpa recorded is in Indiana. Award-winning Catalpa speciosa (Northern Catalpa) is a large deciduous tree adorned with a narrow, oval crown and spreading branches clothed with huge, heart-shaped, light green leaves, 12 in. In late spring to early summer, ravishing clusters of trumpet-shaped, white flowers, 2 in. Bark color and texture Bark is gray-brown, scaly with age. Photo © David D. Taylor 2013. Fruits on tree. Simple leaves are 6 to 10 inches long and heart-shaped, whorled or opposite along branches. ... Northern Catalpa is native to a limited region to our south and east but has been cultivated as a landscape tree outside of its natural range. Catalpa speciosa, commonly referred to as northern catalpa, or simply catalpa. The flowers are white with yellow stripes and purple spots inside. The crown is more upright than C. bigno… Read more Photo © David D. Taylor 2013. The leaves are large, green and heart-shaped. Click on images of Western Catalpa to enlarge. It occasionally escapes cultivation. Catalpa is planted as an ornamental and sometimes escapes cultivation into the wild. The southern catalpa tree also has medicinal uses, and a tea made from the bark has been used as an antiseptic, snake bite antidote, laxative, sedative, and to remove parasitic worms. US Forest Service, FM-RM-VE
Grayson Co., VA 6/18/06. Mature Northern Catalpa tree close-up of trunk and bark in Naperville Illinois 806253 Catalpa speciosa. Washington DC 20250-1103, Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices, Native Plant Material Accomplishment Reports, Fading Gold: The Decline of Aspen in the West, Wildflowers, Part of the Pagentry of Fall Colors, Tall Forb Community of the Intermountain West, Strategic Planning, Budget And Accountability, Recreation, Heritage And Volunteer Resources, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air And Rare Plants. Flowering starts after 275 growing degree days. Northern Catalpa Bark 806253. The long bean-like pods are a better clue -- they're thicker in Northern (10-15 mm) than in Southern (6-10 mm). For massiveness, Northern Catalpa has the edge. Photo © David D. Taylor 2013. Northern catalpa is a medium to large deciduous tree native to the United States that survives in USDA Hardiness zones of 4-8. Catalpa bignonioides also occurs in Kansas and closely resembles Catalpa speciosa. The family is mostly tropical and subtropical. A mature northern catalpa can reach a height of 40 to 70 feet and a width of 20 to 40 feet. Fall color is yellow-green to brown. Inspect the bark of a young catalpa carefully. The fruit is a narrow pod (capsule), up to 36 centimeters (14 inches) long which contains 100 or more winged seeds (see photos). The Northern Catalpa falls into the following type(s): Flowering Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shade Trees Mature Height: The Northern Catalpa grows to be 40' - 60' feet in height. Rabbits are attracted to a catalpa and can cause severe damage by chewing bark off the tree's trunk and gnawing on its low branches and foliage. The veins are bright green. Leaves are opposite or whorled and 18 to 30 centimeters (7 to 12 inches) long and 13 to 21 centimeters (5 to 8 1/4 inches) wide. Most Catalpa are deciduous trees; they typically grow to 12–18 metres (40–60 ft) tall, with branches spreading to a diameter of about 6–12 metres (20–40 ft). The leaves are deciduous, opposite (or whorled), large, heart-shaped, 20–30 cm long and 15–20 cm broad, pointed at the tip and softly hairy beneath. This means that northern catalpa can survive throughout most of the chillier Midwestern states. The genus Catalpa contains ten or eleven (North American Trees, 5th Edition) different species of trees. Non-native. Bark/Twigs: Grayish brown bark with furrows, sometimes thick and scaly looking. The plant is reported to have mild sedative and narcotic properties. Older bark is gray to reddish brown, with shallow to deep fissures and scaly ridges. Catalpa species bear broad panicleso… Leaves: Deciduous. back to trees by common name | trees by botanical name | conifers by common name | conifers by botanical name | German: baumportal.de, © Jost Benning | Imprint | jowaca digital solutions. This tree could have been the inspiration for the story Jack and the Bean Stalk. Long, cigar-like pods persist through winter. Catalpa speciosa, otherwise known as Northern Catalpa is a medium to large sized deciduous tree with showy white flowers that have bright yellow stamen and purple patters on the inside of the flower.They flower in late spring to early summer. Bark was also administered as a treatment for intestinal parasites. The Chinese variety, Catalpa ovata, which is on the City Park tree tour, is a native of China but has been introduced in the eastern part of North America. The Northern Catalpa is botanically called Catalpa speciosa. Species in this family range from woody vines to large trees. Growth Rate: This tree grows at a medium to fast growth rate. Heart-shaped leaves vary from 6-12” long and 3-8” wide. They have characteristic large, heart-shaped leaves, which in some species are three-lobed. Northern Catalpa is a tall shade tree with large, heart-shaped leaves and gorgeous, fragrant white flowers. A tree from the United States of America where it is found in open forests. Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture. The height at 20 years is about 20 feet. Catalpa speciosa, commonly called northern catalpa, is a medium to large, deciduous tree that typically grows to 40-70’ (less frequently to 100’) tall with an irregular, open-rounded to narrow-oval crown. Photo © David D. Taylor 2013. They are glossy on top and densely hairy on their undersides. It has a trunk up to 1 m diameter, with brown to gray bark maturing into hard plates or ridges. Northern Catalpa (Western Catalpa) Catalpa speciosa. "Catalpa" is a Native American name for the tree. Northern Variety . 1400 Independence Ave., SW
Northern catalpa is a medium sized tree that typically grows 15-30 meters tall. It is known from New England, except Vermont, west through New York, to North Dakota, and south to Texas, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, east to Georgia and north to Pennsylvania, but is not recorded from New Jersey and Delaware. It is also planted there for the production of, among other things, telephone poles. 1). Catalpa speciosa – Western Catalpa, Northern Catalpa, Hardy Catalpa. Flower from a Northern Catalpa. In some parts of the country, it is called cigar tree in reference to the long narrow fruits. The Yellow Catalpa (Catalpa ovata) from China, with pale yellow flowers, is also planted outside its natural range for ornamental purposes. Northern and Southern Catalpa are very similar in appearance, but the northern species has slightly larger leaves, flowers, and bean pods. Growth Rate This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to … Leaves are opposite or whorled and 18 to 30 centimeters (7 to 12 inches) long and 13 to … Northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa. Catalpa speciosa range map. The leaves are cordate and the flowers are white. Galax, VA 6/14/2003. The Chinese catalpa thrives in Midwestern urban environments. The genus name Catalpa purportedly comes from a Cherokee Indian word for bean tree the seed pod, which is conspicuous at this time of year, has a long, bean-like shape. The Chinese variety, Catalpa ovata, which is on the City Park tree tour, is a native of China but has been introduced in the eastern part of North America. Flowers close up. The bark is somewhat flaky and gray in color. The dark green leaves are large and cordate (heart shaped). Ten or eleven ( North American trees, 5th Edition ) different species of trees confusion with such! 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