Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
Deciduous-Trees
Although less common in Texas than its Southern counterpart, Northern catalpa has a greater degree of cold-tolerance. Its bell-shaped flowers are a fragrant and showy mid-Summer attraction.
(Detailed plant information can be found at the bottom of the page.)
Catalpa speciosa Photo Gallery
Catalpa speciosa Plant Information
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Catalpa speciosa |
| Common Name: | Northern catalpa Western catalpa hardy catalpa |
| Family: | Bignoniaceae |
| Suggested Uses: | limited use in difficult sites |
| Characteristics | |
| Height: | 50 - 60 feet tall, but may reach 100 feet tall |
| Spread: | |
| Foliage: | 6 - 12 inches long, whorled or opposite, simple, and generally cordate densely pubescent below 4 - 6 inch long petiole |
| Flower: | perfect, bell shaped, slightly fragrant, large panicles corolla is white with purple splotches and yellow spots |
| Bloom Period: | mid-Summer |
| Fruit: | 8 - 20 inch long capsule |
| Bark: | grayish brown on older trunks deeply ridged and furrowed |
| Environment | |
| USDA Zone: | zones 4 - 8 |
| Additional Notes: | Similar characteristics as C. bignoniodes (Southern catalpa) which is more common in Texas Northern catalpa is more cold tolerant, blooms earlier, and has a coarser texture when compared to Southern catalpa |
TTU Plant Resources
-
Address
Texas Tech University, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Box 42122, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
806.742.2838 -
Email
Melanie.Jackson@ttu.edu