# Catalpas (*Catalpa*) Catalpas are beautiful trees with big, heart-shaped leaves and lovely white flowers. They can grow very tall and provide shade for people and animals alike. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, forests - **Also known as:** Catawba Tree ![Catalpas](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cataspec.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cataspec.jpg) ## Appearance The Catalpas has very large, heart-shaped bright green leaves and distinctive bell-shaped white flowers often spotted with yellow and purple. Its most unique feature is long, slender, bean-like pods that hang from branches, persisting through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Bignoniaceae - **Genus:** Catalpa ## Interesting facts - Catalpa wood is naturally rot-resistant, making it super strong! - Its giant heart-shaped leaves are some of the biggest on any tree! - Long seed pods, called 'Indian beans,' can hang like noodles all winter! - Some people call it the 'Cigar Tree' because of its long, thin fruit. ## Special abilities - **Giant Leaf Power:** Catalpas has huge leaves that provide ample shade, helping it conserve water and cool its surroundings. - **Seed Shooter:** Catalpas develops long seed pods that split open to release winged seeds, helping it spread far. - **Bug Lure:** Catalpas has showy, nectar-rich flowers that attract many insects, ensuring successful pollination. - **Woody Armor:** Catalpas has tough, rot-resistant wood that helps it withstand harsh weather and pests for many years. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1000-1800 cm - **Spread:** 600-1200 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** Catalpa Sphinx Moth (*Ceratomia catalpae*) — Larvae feed on Catalpa leaves - **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Nests in the dense canopy - **Eats:** Eastern Grey Squirrel (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — May eat seeds from pods ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring around trees to avoid tripping. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Catalpas? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Catalpas? 1000-1800 cm ### How wide does Catalpas spread? 600-1200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Catalpas? 3-5 cm ### When does Catalpas bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Catalpas edible? No ### Is Catalpas toxic? Mild ### What is Catalpas's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Spring Mill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spring-mill-park) — Pennsylvania, US · Park - [Mount Vernon Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-vernon-square) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [Bürgerpark Pankow (Berlin)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burgerpark-pankow-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park - [Irrgarten Altjeßnitz (Raguhn-Jeßnitz)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/irrgarten-altjessnitz-raguhn-jessnitz) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park [View all places to see Catalpas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/catalpas) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Catalpas: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/catalpas)