Southern Catalpa Tree

Catalpa bignonioides

Other Names: Catawba Tree, Cigar Tree

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Deciduous Tree

Height at Maturity: 30-40′, less frequently to 60′

Width at Maturity: 20-30′, less frequently to 40′

Spacing: 40’+ feet for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Rounded

Growth Rate: Very Fast!

Flower Color: White with Purple and Yellow-Gold markings

Flower Size: 1.5″ in upright panicles/clusters

Flowering Period: Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower Type: Single, bell-shaped, in upright panicles/clusters

Fragrant Flowers: Yes!

Foliage Color: Bright Green on top and pubescent below

Fragrant Foliage: No

Fruit:

Sun Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade; 5 hours of sun per day suggested

Water Needs: Average to Low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained to Wet

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Mammals, Birds, Wildlife

Resistances: Cold, Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect, Wet Soil

Description

A North American native tree of great beauty, the Southern Catalpa, sometimes called “catawba tree,” is adored by gardeners for both its foliage and showy flowers, and by fishermen for the caterpillars of the catalpa sphinx moth that visit the tree and are collected for use as great fishing bait. Fresh or frozen, due to their tough skin, one “catawba worm” can catch several fish. Birds, including turkeys, will feast on the worms. In late spring to early summer, abundant clusters of exotic-looking, fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers with purple and yellow markings in their throats adorn the tree. Very broad, heart-shaped bright green leaves up to 10 inches long and 6 to 8 inches wide provide a lush, tropical look and feel in the landscape. An exceptionally adaptable tree anyone can grow, the Catalpa thrives in acid or alkaline soil that is moist or dry, takes the cold down to -20F and the heat down to Zone 9b in central Florida, and has no serious pest or disease problems.

Wildlife Benefits

The flowers of Catalpa are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for pollination, and this tree is the sole host for the catalpa sphinx moth. With dense foliage and large leaves, the catalpa provides excellent cover and shelter for a wide variety of song birds and wildlife.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide, the Southern Catalpa is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in dry or wet sites. It grows large enough to serve as a nice shade tree. A fine addition to wildlife habitats, fragrance gardens, cottage gardens, rain gardens, wetland gardens and white theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 50 feet for space between trees

Growing Preferences

The Southern Catalpa Tree is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to part shade. A minimum of 5 hours direct sunlight is suggested. It is very drought tolerant once established and will also tolerate periodically wet soil, though standing water is not advised. No pruning is required though can be pruned to control size and for shaping purposes.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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