Catalpa bignonioides

southern catalpa, cigar tree, indian bean
Family

Bignoniaceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite, whorled

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

ovate

Growth Form

tree

Flower Color

pink, white

Flower Month

May - October

Height (meters)

20.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Leaf Retention

Deciduous


Wetland Class

UPL

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

7

Field Characters

A medium sized tree with large, opposite or whorled, heart-shaped leaves. It has long, narrow seed capsules. Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is very similar and is sometimes planted in the south but has thicker capsule walls. Catalpa is similar to Paulownia which has two opposite leaves that are much larger than Catalpa which has leaves in whorles of three or four. Catalpa has white flowers and long narrow pods while Paulownia has lavender to purple flowers and rounded, woody capsule.

Habitat

Stream banks, low woodlands, sometimes planted as an ornamental.