Scientific Name:
Catalpa bignonioides
Pronunciation:
kuh-TAL-puh big-no-ni-OY-dez
Common Name:
southern catalpa
Family Name:
Bignoniaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves whorled or opposite, ovate, 10-20cm long x 8-18 cm wide, margins entire, underside sligtly pubescent mainly near veins; florets white with yellow and purple-brown spots, large, and showy "panicles". Winter ID: opened brown capsules 20-30cm long x 6-8 mm wide (seeds narrower with ends more tapered with fewer but longer hairs than western catalpa), buds globular, flattened, 1-2mm wide; leaf scars concave, circular, 2-3 per node with many bundle scars arranged in a ring.
Habit:
Irregular, Open
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
10 - 15m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
U.S. - southeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Specimen plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite, Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Cordate, Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Thyrse, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
White, Yellow, Violet
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Flowers about 2 weeks after C. speciosa
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Persistent
Bark Morphology:
Plated, Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Rounded or globular
Leaf Scar Shape:
Round
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
Seed capsules and large leaves need raking up. Brittle wood make some branches a hazard with wind or snow. Short lived tree (about 60 years).
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Wilt (Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (BUG) BUG garden : confirm ID - cv. Aurea?