Catalpa speciosa
Table of Contents
Common Name: Northern Catalpa
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Tracheophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Order: Lamiales |
| Family: Bignoniaceae |
| Genus: Catalpa |
| Species: Catalpa speciosa |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
Northern catalpa grow up to 80’ tall, and have gray-brown, scaly bark.
Their leaves are opposite and simple. They are 6-13" long, and shaped like a spade. They’re distinguised from redbud trees easily by the length of the tip of the leaf.
In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and brown.
Habitat & Range
Northern catalpa trees tend to prefer moist soils and are currently found throughout much of the Northeastern US.
Life Cycle
In May through June this plant produces trumpet-shaped flowers.
The seeds of this plant are in long pods between 10-24".
Featured image by James Dake.
Related
Fraxinus americana
White Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Green Ash
Prunella vulgaris
Heal-all