Northern Catalpa
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6Will it grow where I live?
Northern Catalpa is hardy to zone 4 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 4 upwards.
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Profile
- Family
- Bignoniaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Height
- 18 m
- Spread
- 13 m
- Growth
- fast
- Lifespan
- 60 years
- First yield
- after 8 years
- Hardiness
- zone 4–9
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
- Soil moisture
- dry – very wet
- pH
- 5.5 – 7.5
- Synonyms
- Bean tree, Cigartree
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest |
Uses
Growing
Catalpa speciosa prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils but tolerates a wide range including dry or wet soils. It grows best in fertile loams with pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Water regularly after planting and during dry spells. Propagate by seed or cuttings. Prune young trees to maintain a strong central leader and remove lower branches for easier maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Northern Catalpa: how big does it get?
Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 18 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 13 m. Growth is fast.
Northern Catalpa: what site does it need?
Northern Catalpa tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – very wet. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.
Northern Catalpa: is it hardy?
Northern Catalpa is listed as hardy in zone 4–9 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Northern Catalpa: will it grow in Central Europe?
Northern Catalpa is hardy to zone 4 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 4 upwards.
Northern Catalpa: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from May to July.
Northern Catalpa: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from September to November.
Northern Catalpa: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Northern Catalpa are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Northern Catalpa: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 1/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 6/10.
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