Northern Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

Overview

The Northern Catalpa tree is native to the Midwest that can grow anywhere from 40-60 feet tall. It possesses an irregularly rounded crown and more open and spread out foliage. The leaves on this tree are lighter green and shaped as large hearts. They are also commonly known for their large clusters of white and fragrant flowers, and even more so, their seed pods that can grow up to 20 inches long, resembling a large green pea pod. The seeds are also winged, allowing strong wings to move them further. 

Cultivation

Northern Catalpa trees grow at a rather fast rate, about a foot a year. They enjoy full sunlight and alkine, moist, well-drained soil. The Catalpa tree is very tolerant to things such as dry sites, occasional flooding, road salt, and wet sites but also has weaker wood and branch structure since it is a more open and branching tree. 

Biodiversity Sustained

This tree due to its large size is a common source of wildlife, for both pollinators and homes for many animals. A specific animal that calls this tree home is the catalpa sphinx moth, specifically its larvae, the catalpa hornworm. The catalpa worm only feed on the foliage of trees in the genus Catalpa, making this tree crucial for their survival.