Northern Catalpa

The catalpa is a common tree seen throughout the Midwest, prominent in Indiana. The word "catalpa" comes from the language of the Cherokee Native Americans, and translates to "tree" or "bean tree." The catalpa worm - which is actually a caterpillar for the catalpa sphinx moth - uses this tree as its main source of food.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Catalpa speciosa

HISTORY: Native Americans and European settlers have a long history with the catalpa. Early pioneers used its wood to create fence posts and furniture; doctors used various parts of the tree for medicine. The seeds and seed pods were used to create a decoction for lung and heart problems, the leaf/root juices were used to treat eye swelling or skin afflictions, the leaves were crushed and placed on swollen lymph glands, and the bark was dried and powdered for tea to treat swollen lymph glands. The tree earned the nicknames "Indian bean tree" and "cigar tree" due to the Catawba natives of South Carolina smoking the seed pods of the tree.

LEAVES: The large, simple leaves of the northern catalpa can range from 8-12 inches long. They are heart-shaped and whorled, with yellowish-green coloring in the summer that turns to just yellow in the fall.

FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: The northern catalpa has pod-like capsules that are 8-20 inches long, each filled with winged seeds. The shape and color of the seed pods also contribute to the catalpa's nickname of "cigar tree."

FLOWERS: The tree flowers in late spring to early summer, producing large clusters of showy, white, bell-shaped corollas. The flowers are usually streaked with orange or purple stripes and spots.

BARK: The bark is gray-brown, becoming scaly as the tree matures.

HEIGHT: The northern catalpa typically attains heights of 40-60 feet. The largest recorded catalpa in Indiana is 85 feet tall.

USES: The catalpa is primarily used today as a large, ornamental shade tree. Its wood has been used for fence posts, railroad ties, packing materials, interior trim, and telephone or power line poles throughout the years. It is sometimes planted to attract catalpa worms - a prized fishing bait.

SOURCES:

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_casp8.pdf

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/northern-catalpa/

https://shop.arborday.org/northern-catalpa

https://www2.winona.edu/m/arboretum/about.asp?e=22&t=24

The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.