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Northern Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

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Grows in Zones 4-9

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Northern Catalpa Details:

Plant Facts

Mature Height	40 - 70 feet
Mature Spread	20 - 40 feet
Soil Type	Widely Adaptable
Moisture	Widely Adaptable
Mature Form	Oval
Growth Rate	Rapid
Sun Exposure	Full Sun - Partial Sun
Flower Color	White, Purple Spots
Fall Color	Yellow
Foliage Color	Green
Zones	4-9

The Northern Catalpa tree, Catalpa speciosa, is now naturalized in urban and rural areas and is primarily used today as a large ornamental shade tree. Farmers introduced Northern Catalpa to Ohio in order to produce large amounts of relatively lightweight timber for fenceposts, since the wood is very resistant to rotting.This deciduous tree is also known as Hardy Catalpa, Western Catalpa, Cigar Tree, and Catawba-Tree. It may reach heights of 70 feet tall and 40 feet wide.

As a member of the Bignonia Family, it is related to Trumpet Vine, Royal Paulownia, and other species of Catalpa, all of which are known for their showy flowers. Northern Catalpa trees are a very fast growing trees with large heart-shaped leaves. The white flowers are on 4-8 inch long panicles in late June. Fruit is a long pod. Very tolerant of tough conditions.

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northern catalpa, 8/31/2006 7:19:57 PM
Reviewer: goatfarmersixmile
Does the northern catalpa tree produce fish bait like the southern catalpa? Answer from Nature Hills: The northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) also hosts the catalpa sphinx caterpillar, which is popular as fish bait. The catalpa sphinx occurs throughout much of eastern United States from Florida to New York west to Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas.
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Wow! That was fast, 9/8/2006 9:16:29 PM
Reviewer: Leslie
We planted 3 catalpa trees 3.5 years ago, they were about 5 feet tall. They are now about 20 feet tall with an incredible canopy. A Magnificent fast growing tree!!!
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Caterpillars, 9/26/2006 12:41:43 PM
Reviewer: bestnana
How do I keep the caterpillars off the tree? I have three trees, but one is totally DE-LEAVED (if there is such a word) from those creatures. Answer from Nature Hills: You have a bug problem, we use Bacillus Thuringiensis as per instructions.
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To Trim, 11/19/2006 11:18:20 PM
Reviewer: Archie Bunker
Now that it is winter in utah there are some dead limbs as some dead area to this tree Tell me how to cut or tiim som of this dead limbs as other branches to clean it up to look nice again in the next summer to come / Answer from Nature Hills: The United States Department of Agriculture has a great site dedicated to tree pruning. The information can be used in many pruning applications. Here is the link: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_prune/prun001.htm
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Re;catapillars, 1/30/2007 7:44:43 PM
Reviewer: m o t
Here in the south the catalpa worm(catapillar) is a very desirable bait for fishing and since they are velvety-feeling(yellow with a black back),people who dont like fishing with earth worms prefer them also. People will start a tree and then gather the worms and put them on a tree in hopes of them returning the next year of their life cycle as they have to bury into the ground after feeding from the leaves in order to continue the life cycle.Thet can certainly clean a tree quickly,but I understand that it will leaf back out after theyve finished.You might make a little profit from them if word got out about the fishing.
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Exellent, 5/18/2007 2:03:26 AM
Reviewer: Allen
Our tree is 60 feet tall and 30 years old. We love its shade. We have never seen a single caterpillar.
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Messy tree but Pretty, 6/22/2007 4:26:22 AM
Reviewer: Terence
have 3 very large ones on property that are over 100 years old good shade and pretty about 1 week in june the rest of the time fall and spring they spell big clean up pods are difficult to rake up and when roots hit foudation or obstruction another tree will come up thomas Jefferson must have liked them there are many at montecello in virginia
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My Favorite Tree!, 7/28/2007 11:44:02 AM
Reviewer: dragonlady
We bought our home seven yrs ago and this was the first time I had ever seen this kind of tree. I looked online and in gardening books to find out its name because in Iowa they just call it a sweetpea tree. It has a heavenly sweet fragrance when it blooms that perfumes the air and is very showy. My tree was struck by lightning and had to be cut down. I was heart brokend but within just two years it has grown back not one tree but three from the same area and all of them are over twelve feet tall now and one bloomed this year. I couldnt be happier. I plan to buy more of these trees. So far I have not seen one pod but my trees are very young yet.
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Strangers Will Ask, 8/5/2007 7:57:46 PM
Reviewer: SonFlower
> The Catalpa is my favorite tree in the whole World! Two Catalpas graced the front of our house in Southern California. Several times in the 20 years I lived with them Total Strangers knocked on our door just to ask the name of those trees! The flowers are very showy against the green that is chartruse, plus the heart shaped leaves are so large that fall clean up is easy. > Sooner or later if you mention the Catalpa tree, you will hear the comment "Theyre so messy." These people have experienced a Catalpa that is too near a house entrance. The flowers will drop and can be tracked into the house. Plant your Catalpa away from the driveway or deck. You will enjoy their beauty, their color and the funny string pods. They spread from 20 to 40 feet. > I know of one Catalpa that has been growing in Leverett, Mass. for 205 years and it is Magnificant! I recently acquired two of its offspring and am planting them in Colorado near Colorado Springs. I will view my Catalpa and Pikes Peak with joy!
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Excellent grower, 9/7/2008 5:49:08 PM
Reviewer: tolstoy77
Planted one from Nursey Hills along with some other species. The Catalpa has out performed them all in single season growth. It was a bit spindlely out of the box but overall health remains intact and its putting on trunk mass quickly. Good review for first season, might want to stake it first unlike what I did. Alex K.
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