FNPS Plant Database

Catalpa bignonioides

catalpa
  • Photo by: Rick Cantrell, Magnolia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Rick Cantrell, Magnolia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

catalpa

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Catalpa bignonioides

Family:

Bignoniaceae

Plant Specifics

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:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

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:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

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

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

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

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

Larval host for catalpa sphinx moth ( Ceratomia catalpae ) and tersa sphinx ( Xylophanes tersa ).


Attracts various pollinators including butterflies and bees. 

Native Habitats:

dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests.

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

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:

Citations:

University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2025. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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