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Northern Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

Northern catalpa is a fast-growing shade tree with bold heart-shaped leaves, large showy white flowers, and dangling cigar-like seed pods. Tough and adaptable; host to the catalpa sphinx moth.

Family
Bignoniaceae
Type
tree
Lifespan
perennial
Height
40–60 ft
Spacing
20–40 ft apart
Light
sun, part shade
Soil moisture
dry, moist
Soil pH
acidic, neutral
Bloom
May, June
Bloom colors
white
Wildlife value
pollinators, larval host
Landscape uses
specimen
Native states
AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV