Family: Bignoniaceae
Species: Catalpa bignonioides Walter
Common name: Catalpa or Cigar Tree
Etymology
The name Catalpa derives from the word “Catawa,” referring to a tribe of American Indians who lived where botanists first observed this plant.
Description
A robust, scaly, pale brown trunk with pods hanging from the branches' ends and persist during the cold season when the tree is bare.
This medium-sized deciduous tree, native to North America, has a short but sturdy, branched, and scaly trunk that expands to form a large, not very compact crown. The bark is dark greenish-brown, peeling off in scales that appear to intertwine in long, thin filaments. It grows quickly and is long-lived; ancient specimens can reach 8–10 m in height. The leaves are very large, with smooth, regular edges; they are light green on the upper surface and lighter and slightly pubescent underneath. Their shape is heart-like with a pronounced tip and a long stalk; when rubbed between the hands, they emit an unpleasant odour.
In late spring, the tree produces numerous erect panicles. Each flower has a showy tubular, bell-shaped corolla with white petals streaked in red-purple and a broad throat marked with yellow. At the end of summer, it produces long, thin capsules resembling cylindrical pods, which turn from yellowish-green in colour to brown and persist throughout the winter until the following spring, when they release numerous winged seeds.
Habitat
Native to the south-east of the United States.
Notes and Curiosities
This tree is known for its large, rounded crown and heart-shaped leaves of a beautiful bright green, which are highly ornamental due to their size and form. It is prized for providing a pleasant shade—uniform but not overly dense. Its flowering is also distinctive: from late spring to the end of August, its fragrant, bell-shaped flowers blanket the plant with white highlights.
Thus, the Catalpa remains very decorative from spring until late autumn. By the end of summer, it develops long pods that stay on the plant throughout autumn and much of winter, which is why it has earned the nickname “cigar tree.”
The species thrives in bright, sunny positions but also grows well in partial or complete shade; Catalpas are unafraid of cold and generally cope well with even the harshest, windiest winters.