Catalpa bignonioides

25 Jul

Catalpa bignonioides (10/07/2011, London)

Position: Full sun

Soil: Moist, well drained soil

Flowering period: Summer

Eventual Height: 10m

Eventual Spread: 10m

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Bignoniaceae

Catalpa bignonioides flower (10/07/2011, London)

Catalpa bignonioides is a deciduous tree with a spreading habit. Its foliage is extremely large, chordate, light green and purplish when young. Its hermaphroditic , 3cm across white flowers are marked with yellow and purple, appear in panicles of 20-40 and appear prolifically in summer, followed by long, cylindrical, pendant pods.

Catalpa bignonioides Leaf (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Catalpa bignonioides, commonly known as the Indian Bean Tree, is native to south-eastern United States. The roots of the tree are known to be highly poisonous. There are also references to the plant being used in traditional medicine and although many uses have been tried for the plant (its bark has been used as a substitute for quinine in treating malaria, as an antidote to snake bites, laxative, sedative and vermifuge), its actual traditional uses are not explicitly known. C. bignonioides was introduced into Britain in 1726, with the oldest living specimen, at 150 years old, being found in a church graveyard in Reading.

Catalpa bignonioides Bark (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Catalpa is believed to be a mispronunciation of the name of the Catawba Native Americans. Bignonioides is derived from the Latin meaning ‘like members of the Bignonia genus’.

The landscape architect may find Catalpa bignonioides useful as a striking, small to medium sized parkland tree with interesting leaves and a mass of flowers during the summer months.

Catalpa bignonioides Seed Pods (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Catalpa bignonioides, Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ and Catalpa bignonioides ‘Purpurea’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Catalpa bignonioides will tolerate almost any soil conditions; it will be happy in neutral, alkaline or acid pH levels, in loam, chalk, clay or sand based soils facing a sheltered, southern, eastern or western facing aspect.

Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ (17/06/2012, London)

Ecologically, Catalpa bignonioides will attract pollinating insects such as butterflies and honey bees and some species of lepidoptera will prefer its foliage as a food source, e.g. the Catalpa Sphinx, although this species of moth is native to North America.

Catalpa bignonioides requires little to no maintenance. Dead or damaged material may be removed in late winter to early spring.