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Catalpa speciosa

Common Name: Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
Catalpa speciosa

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.

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