Northern Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

Large White Flowers that Bloom in Late Spring
Large Heart Shaped Bright Green Leaves
Fast Growing Tree
40' to 60' High with 30' Spread
Zones 4 to 8
Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI

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Zones 4 - 8

Hardiness Zones: Zones 4 - 8
The Northern Catalpa can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

flowering tree

Type of tree:
The Northern Catalpa falls into the following type(s): Flowering Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shade Trees

40' - 60' High

Mature Height:
The Northern Catalpa grows to be 40' - 60' feet in height.

20' - 40' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Northern Catalpa has a spread of about 20' - 40' at full maturity.

Medium to Fast Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium to fast growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This catalpa does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils

Soil:
The Northern Catalpa grows in acidic, alkaline, drought tolerant, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well drained, wet, wide range, clay soils.

Oval Shape

Shape:
This catalpa has oval shape.

More Info

Attributes:
An excellent tree where fast growth is desired. Striking flowers that appear in early summer. Catalpas can withstand city conditions while adding interest to landscapes. Should not be planted where fruit and flowers can drop on sidewalks as they are slippery after they fall for a short period of time.

Wildlife Value:
The flowers of the catalpa are visited by hummingbirds. It is the sole host of the catalpa sphinx moth.

History/Lore/Use:
The Catalpa tree is found in forests from southern Illinois and Indiana to western Tennessee and Arkansas. First cultivated in 1754, the wood was used for fence posts and railroad ties because of its resistance to rot coupled with the fast growth rate of the tree. In the south, Catalpa trees are traditional sources of fish bait. Catalpa worms, the larvae of Catalpa Sphinx Moths, are eagerly sought in early summer by anglers. Common names for catalpa are many and colorful-cigar tree, Indian bean tree, catawba, caterpillar tree, hardy catalpa, western catalpa.

Moisture:
A wide range of moisture content can be tolerated including some flooding and extremely hot, dry conditions.

Leaves:
The leaves are simple, opposite, somewhat heart or spearhead shaped, 6"-12" long, 3"-8" wide, medium green in summer, yellow or brown in fall. Their shape and giant size long make them a favorite with children.

Flower Color:
White, trumpet shaped, 2" flowers that flare widely from the base, decorated with yellow lines or patches and occasional purple spots. Slightly fragrant. Catalpa begins to flower after 7 years.

Bloom Time:
May - June..

Fruit Description:
The fruits are elongated cigar-shaped or bean-like pods, 8"-12" long, 1/4"-1/2" wide. They are green in color turning brownish filled with numerous, 1" long seeds fringed at the ends. A favorite of children's play and imagination. Northern catalpa begins to flower after 7 years, but will take until 10 years of age to begin to a produce quality seed crop.

Large, showy white trumpet-shaped flowers grace the Catalpa in late spring. Its narrow crown is uneven or oval-shaped, upright with distinctively large, heart-shaped, bright green leaves, and long, bean-like pods. Unique twisting trunks and branches are common feature and add to the ornamental value of the tree. Withstands wet, dry, alkaline soils and hot, dry environments, but prefers deep, moist soil. Sun or partial shade. Grows to 40'-60' with a 20'-40' spread. (Zones 4-8)

		Spring Shipping		Fall Shipping
Color	Zone	Approximate Ship Dates	Order Deadline	Approximate Ship Dates	Order Deadline
	2	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	3	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	4	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	5	04/15–05/30	05/14	11/01–11/26	11/12
	6	03/19–05/12	05/07	11/01–12/03	11/19
	7	03/11–05/07	04/30	11/05–12/10	11/26
	8	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26
	9	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26
	10	02/26–04/30	04/23	11/05–12/10	11/26

We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

	Standard		Dwarf
	Mature Height	Space Needed	Mature Height	Space Needed
Apple	20' - 25'	35' x 35'	10' **	10' x 10' ++
Peach	20'	20' x 20'	8' - 10'	10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry	30'	20' x 25'	12' - 15'	10' x 10'
Sour Cherry	20'	20' x 20'	8'	10' x 10'
Pear	20'	20' x 20'	12' - 15'	12' x 12'
Apricot	20'	20' x 20'
Plum	20'	20' x 20'	8' - 10'	10' x 10'
			** semi-dwarf 12' - 15' ++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

They are very affordable.
Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.

If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.

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