# northern catalpa (*Catalpa speciosa*) The northern catalpa is a tall tree with big, heart-shaped leaves and beautiful white flowers. It provides shade and is loved by many birds and butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 27 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![northern catalpa](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Catalpa_speciosa_20060624.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mark Wagner, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catalpa_speciosa_20060624.jpg) ## Appearance The northern catalpa has large, heart-shaped leaves and showy white bell-shaped flowers with purple and yellow markings. Its most distinctive feature is the long, slender, bean-like pods that hang from its branches through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Bignoniaceae - **Genus:** Catalpa ## Interesting facts - A single northern catalpa tree can produce thousands of long, bean-like pods! - Early settlers used parts of the catalpa tree in traditional herbal remedies! - Its strong, rot-resistant wood was historically used for fence posts and railroad ties! - The unique 'catalpa worms' that feast on its leaves are prized fishing bait! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Growth Spurt:** Northern catalpa can grow incredibly fast, reaching mature heights quickly to compete for sunlight. - **Water Whisperer Roots:** This tree has deep roots that help it find water, allowing it to thrive even in drier conditions. - **Seed Launcher Pods:** Its long, bean-like pods burst open, flinging hundreds of winged seeds far from the parent tree. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-1500 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late_spring_early_summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Eats:** Catalpa Sphinx Moth (*Ceratomia catalpae*) — larvae feed exclusively on catalpa leaves - **Depends on:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — drinks nectar from its showy flowers ## 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. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [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. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [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 Stay away from the tree's long pods; they can be messy when they fall. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify northern catalpa? 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 northern catalpa? 1500-3000 cm ### How wide does northern catalpa spread? 1000-1500 cm ### How big are the flowers on northern catalpa? 3-5 cm ### When does northern catalpa bloom? Late_spring_early_summer ### Is northern catalpa edible? No ### Is northern catalpa toxic? Mild ### What is northern catalpa's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Capen-Clark Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capen-clark-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Cedar Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see northern catalpa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-catalpa) ## 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: [Northern Catalpa: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-catalpa)