Catalpa bignonioides ~ Southern Catalpa

Catalpa bignonioides ~ Southern CatalpaSouthern Catalpa develops a broad, spreading canopy with a somewhat irregular form. It produces very large, heart shaped leaves that create dense shade. In late spring to early summer, the tree is covered with clusters of white, trumpet shaped flowers marked with yellow and purple inside. These are followed by long, slender seed pods often called cigar pods. Grows best in loamy and moist well drained soils. Tolerates urban conditions, drought, poor

Southern Catalpa develops a broad, spreading canopy with a somewhat irregular form. It produces very large, heart-shaped leaves that create dense shade. In late spring to early summer, the tree is covered with clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers marked with yellow and purple inside. These are followed by long, slender seed pods often called “cigar pods.” Grows best in loamy and moist well-drained soils.  Tolerates urban conditions, drought, poor soil, and wet soil.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance.  No serious disease or pest issues. Can susceptible to verticillium wilt, leaf spot, mildew, and twig blight.  Catalpa Sphinx Moth larvae can cause considerable foliage damage.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Native Gardens, and Urban Gardens.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Lilac, Viburnum, Spiraea

IMAGES: carlfbagge, IMG_7786 Catalpa Tree in Full Bloom (Catalpa speciosa?), (2) Photoset by Bruce Kirchoff, Catalpa speciosa, (1) 05 1695 , (2) 46 1727, (3) Plant Image Library, Catalpa speciosa (Northern Catapla), (4) Andrey Zharkikh, 2015.09.05_11.29.23_DSC00269 

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.