Catalpa speciosa

Catalpa speciosa (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 30m

Eventual Spread: 12m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Bignoniaceae

Catalpa speciosa is a fast growing medium sized deciduous tree with a rounded to oval crown. Its light green leaves are opposite, cordate with entire margins, up to 30cm long and 20cm broad. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. Its bark is brown/ grey and becomes ridged with age. Its bell shaped flowers are white with yellow stripes and purple spots inside, appear in panicles of up to 30 and are up to 4cm long and 5cm broad. Its fruit is a hanging legume like pod, round in cross section and will achieve a length of up to 40cm long. These usually remain on the tree during the winter months.

Catalpa speciosa Leaf (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Catalpa speciosa, commonly known as the Northern Catalpa, Hardy Catalpa, Western Catalpa, Cigar Tree or Catawba Tree, is native to mid-west United States.

The etymological root of the binomial name Catalpa is believed to be a mispronunciation of the name of the Catawba Native Americans. Speciosa is from the Latin meaning ‘spectacular’.

The landscape architect may find  Catalpa speciosa useful as a spectacular flowering specimen tree. It is tolerant of urban pollution. Care should be taken when locating this tree as the seed pods and seeds fall off this tree during the winter and spring.

Catalpa speciosa Bark (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Catalpa speciosa is attractive to pollinating insects.

Catalpa speciosa prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil. It is noted for being tolerant of a wide range of soil moisture.

Catalpa speciosa requires little maintenance.

Sophora japonica

Styphnolobium japonicum (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 25m

Eventual Spread: 20m

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

Family: Fabaceae

Subfamily: Faboideae

Styphnolobium japonicum Flower (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Sophora japonica is a fast growing, deciduous, rounded medium sized tree with an open habit. Its mid green leaves are alternate, odd pinnate and up to 25cm long. They are composed of up to 21 leaflets, each being ovate with entire margins and up to, 5cm long. Its leaves turn yellow before falling in autumn. Its bark is light grey/ brown with vertical ridges. Its white/ yellow pea like flowers appear in pendulous axillary racemes. Its fruit are long seed pods which are up to 20cm long, initially green, maturing to grey.

Sophora japonica, commonly known as the Pagoda Tree, Japanese Pagoda Tree or Scholar Tree, is native to eastern China and Korea. Despite its binomial name, it was introduced in to Japan. Sophora japonica is synonymous with Styphnolobium japonicum. This tree has a long use in traditional Chinese medicine.

Sophora japonica Leaf (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Sophora is derived from the Arabic name, sophera, for a pea-flowered tree. Japonica is derived from the Latin meaning ‘of Japan’, although this tree was introduced into Japan.

The landscape architect may find  Sophora japonica useful as a medium sized tree with a light canopy in a street or parkland setting. This tree is tolerant of urban pollution. Once established it is drought tolerant.

Sophora japonica Bark (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Sophora japonica is attractive to pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Sophora japonica their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Sophora japonica prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It is tolerant of poor soils.

Sophora japonica requires little maintenance.



Landscape Architecture

Quercus rubra

Quercus rubra (15/08/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 35m

Eventual Spread: 25m

Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Fagaceae

Quercus rubra Leaf (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Quercus rubra is a fast growing, long lived, medium/ large, deciduous, spreading tree. Its dark green leaves are alternate, ovate to oblong with up to 9 bristle tipped lobes, up to 20cm long and 12cm broad. Its leaves turn bright red in autumn before they fall. Its stout  branches tend to grow at right angles to the stem. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 2m. Its grey/ brown bark has vertical ridges with shiny stripe in its troughs. Its flowers are monoecious, the male being yellow/ green catkins which are up to 10cm long, the female are small and insignificant. Its fruit are acorns which are up to 2.5cm long and take 18 months to mature.

Quercus rubra, commonly known as Northern Red Oak, Red Oak or Champion Oak is native to central and eastern North America. Quercus rubra is synonymous with Quercus borealis. It is the state tree if New Jersey, USA. It was introduced into the UK in 1724.

Quercus rubra Autumn Leaf (03/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Quercus is derived from the Latin name for an Oak tree, but some authorities believe it to be derived from the Celtic quer meaning ‘fine’ and cuez meaning ‘a tree’. Rubra is from the Latin meaning ‘red’ in reference to its autumn leaf colour.

The landscape architect may find Quercus rubra useful as a parkland tree. This tree is tolerant of urban pollution.

Ecologically, Quercus rubra acorns are attractive to some mammals and birds.

Quercus rubra Bark (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Quercus rubra their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Quercus rubra prefers moist, deep, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it prefers an acidic pH.



Landscape Architecture

Quercus rubra requires little maintenance.