General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 25 to 50 feet (7.6-15m)
Plant Spread: 25 to 50 feet (7.6-15m)
Leaves: Deciduous
Malodorous
Fruit: Showy
Other: long slender seed pods to 16 inches (40cm) long
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Blooms on old wood
Flower Color: White
Other: White with purplish or yellow markings.
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Street Tree
Uses: Shade Tree
Flowering Tree
Will Naturalize
Useful for timber production
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Flood Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Bees
Containers: Not suitable for containers
Miscellaneous: Monoecious
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM

Image
Common names
  • Southern Catalpa
  • Catalpa
  • Catawba
  • Indian Bean Tree
  • Fish-Bait Tree
  • Cigar Tree

Photo Gallery
Location: Missouri
Date: 2022-05-31
Catalpa spp
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2018-07-22
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Brussels)
Location: Garden that used to be my lawn
Date: 2017-06-09
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Brussels)
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Brussels)
Date: 2019-01-23
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2021-08-14
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-04-12
Location: Rhode Island
Date: 2013-06-22

Date: c. 1865
illustration by Bessa from Michaux's 'The North American Sylva',
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2018-08-25
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-10
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-10
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-02-16
Location: Hortus Botanicus Leiden
Date: 2022-03-26
Location: Hortus Botanicus Leiden
Date: 2022-03-26
Location: Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-06-15
flowers close-up
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2018-07-22

Date: 2016-07-09
Location: Pollard Park, Blenheim, New Zealand
Date: 2016-12-15
Location: Saratov City, Russia.
Date: June
credit: Le.Loup.Gris.
Location: Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-06-15
flower clusters

Date: c. 1900
illustration from Robinson's 'The English Flower Garden', 1900
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-04-12
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-04-12
The subject is the blooming tree in the center
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: April 28, 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Date: 2013-06-22
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2021-08-14
Location: Wayneboro MS
Date: 2006-05-02
Location: Smithfield, KY
Date: 2016-07-31
CATALPA TREE AFTER TENT CATERPILLARS HAVE THEIR WAY
Location: Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-06-15
maturing specimen
Location: Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-06-15
foliage
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-04-12
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2016-08-21
Location: Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Date: July
credit: Magnus Manske
Location: Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Date: July
credit: Magnus Manske
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: April 28, 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Date: 2013-06-22

Date: 2016-07-09
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Jun 3, 2019 6:25 PM concerning plant:
    This Southern Catalpa comes from southern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, northwest Florida, and a little of Louisiana. Its opposite, heart-shaped leaves are 4 to 10 inches long by 3 to 8 inches wide. Its flowers are in denser clusters and with more yellow and purple in the mostly white flowers, and it blooms about 2 weeks later than the Northern Catalpa. Its pods are 6 to 15 inches long and are thinner-walled than the Northern's. The Southern species is a smaller tree growing usually 30 to 40 feet, though 60 feet is possible. I've only seen one specimen at an arboretum in southeast PA, so she is not nearly as common as her big sister, the Northern Catapa.
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AndreA33 On November 25, 2013 Seeds sown
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