(Catalpa)

This largely tropical plant family comprises some 800 species of often showy-flowered vines, trees, and shrubs. Most members of the Bignoniaceae inhabit South America, but a few are of North American or Old World origin. Many are cultivated as garden or greenhouse ornamentals, and a few are grown for timber.

The opposite or whorled leaves of these woody plants are palmately or pinnately compound (with leaflets in a finger- or feather-like arrangement), or sometimes simple. The showy, five-petaled,...

(Southern Catalpa)

Southern catalpa is a broad, spreading, deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. Its leaves are light green and heart-shaped. Southern catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with brown and purple markings in summer. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods in autumn.

Southern catalpa does well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade and makes an interesting specimen tree. Cultivar 'Aurea' has yellow leaves and is smaller at maturity; 'Nana' is a dwarfed shrub...

(Golden Southern Catalpa)

Southern catalpa is a broad, spreading, deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States. Its leaves are light green and heart-shaped. Southern catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with brown and purple markings in summer. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods in autumn.

Southern catalpa does well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade and makes an interesting specimen tree. Cultivar 'Aurea' has yellow leaves and is smaller at maturity; 'Nana' is a dwarfed shrub...

(Dwarf Southern Catalpa)

Umbrella catalpa is a dense, rounded, globe form grafted high onto southern catalpa. (It is often sold as Catalpa bungei.) It does not bloom and remains small but requires shaping. Catalpas prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Umbrella catalpa is useful in restricted spaces such as formal gardens and narrow streets.

(Manchurian Catalpa)

Manchurian catalpa is a small, spreading, deciduous tree native to northern China. Leaves are triangular, toothed and dark green. Fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers produced in terminal cluster are rose-pink to white with yellow and purple markings. The flowers appear in summer. Manchurian catalpa produces long, bean-like fruit pods in the fall which can be somewhat messy.

Manchurian catalpa does well in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. This species requires pruning while...

(Hybrid Catalpa)

This largely tropical plant family comprises some 800 species of often showy-flowered vines, trees, and shrubs. Most members of the Bignoniaceae inhabit South America, but a few are of North American or Old World origin. Many are cultivated as garden or greenhouse ornamentals, and a few are grown for timber.

The opposite or whorled leaves of these woody plants are palmately or pinnately compound (with leaflets in a finger- or feather-like arrangement), or sometimes simple. The showy, five-petaled,...

(Purple Hybrid Catalpa)

This largely tropical plant family comprises some 800 species of often showy-flowered vines, trees, and shrubs. Most members of the Bignoniaceae inhabit South America, but a few are of North American or Old World origin. Many are cultivated as garden or greenhouse ornamentals, and a few are grown for timber.

The opposite or whorled leaves of these woody plants are palmately or pinnately compound (with leaflets in a finger- or feather-like arrangement), or sometimes simple. The showy, five-petaled,...

(Northern Catalpa)

Northern catalpa is a deciduous tree with an irregular to oval form. It is native to a small area in an interior south-central region of the United States. Leaves are medium to dark green and heart-shaped. This catalpa bears fragrant white flowers with yellow and purple markings in spring. These produce long, bean-like fruit pods.

Northern catalpa prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade but tolerates hot, dry conditions.