Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
Bignoniaceae (Crossvine Family)
▲▼ large trees on Missouri State University campus in flower
▲ Springfield, MO flowering tree
▲▼ flowers
▲ large leaves
▲ pod-like fruit
▲ mature tree bark
▲▼ trees weathered Springfield ice storm of 2007 pretty well
Location on campus: south of Siceluff Hall, southwest corner of Hill Hall (young tree), retention center southwest of Lot 24
Catalpa speciosa:
Northern Catalpa
·
leaves opposite or in whorls of three, deciduous, simple, chordate with entire
margins; leaves large 6-12" long and 3-8" wide; light to medium green in color
and glabrous above and pubescent underneath
·
stems stout and reddish to yellow brown with large lenticels and solid white
pith
·
bark is gray-brown and furrowed or scaly with age
·
grows 40-60' tall and about 2/3 as wide usually in upright oval or irregular
crown shape
·
flowers are large, white in terminal panicles in late spring; fruit is a long
capsule 1-1.5' long that persists into winter
·
prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained fertile soil, although
fairly soil adaptable
·
medium to fast growth rate; wood is fairly weak
·
native to Missouri
Other Catalpa relatives:
Catalpa
bignonioides:
Southern Catalpa
o
similar to northern catalpa, but leaves smaller, with pubescent veins and bad
odor when crushed
o
flowers similar, fruit pod is more slender and shorter
o
a cultivar ‘Nana’ is
grafted to form a “lollypop” shaped tree
Catalpa
ovata:
Chinese Catalpa
o
leaves are smaller, sometimes with 3 teeth on margins and fruit is longer but
thinner than northern catalpa
Paulownia tomentosa:
Royal Paulownia, Empress Tree, Princess Tree
o
leaves are like northern catalpa, but opposite, very pubescent underneath and
with strong odor, otherwise similar to northern catalpa
o
flowers are purple in terminal panicles, opening before leaves emerge in early
spring
o
very fast growing, can be a weedy tree in some areas