Common Name:

catalpa

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Catalpa bignonioides

Family:

Bignoniaceae

Form:

tree

Size:

40-50 (70) ft tall by to 35 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Specimen or shade tree.

Considerations:

The foul-smelling crushed leaves, flower litter, seed pod litter, and root suckers can create a maintenance problem in residential landscapes.

Availability:

Propagation:

Seed and cuttings. Seedlings can sometimes be harvested from beneath mature trees.

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

slightly acidic to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

Extremely rot resistant wood was use for fence posts and rails. Wood was utilized where its soft, straight-grained, and low shrinkage properties were valuable. Occasional wood pieces and furniture parts were fashioned from catalpa. Sometimes grown to attract insects such as catawba worm (larva of the catalpa sphinx moth) which is used for fish bait.

General Comments: