# southern catalpa (*Catalpa bignonioides*) The southern catalpa is a beautiful tree with large, heart-shaped leaves and lovely white flowers. It can grow quite tall and provides 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 ![southern catalpa](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Catalpa_bignonioides_05.jpg&width=800) Photo: Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catalpa_bignonioides_05.jpg) ## Appearance The southern catalpa has very large, light green, heart-shaped leaves and showy white, bell-shaped flowers with purple spots and yellow stripes. Its most distinctive feature is the long, slender, bean-like seed pods that hang from its branches through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Bignoniaceae - **Genus:** Catalpa ## Interesting facts - Catalpa worms, a prized fishing bait, are actually caterpillars that only eat catalpa leaves! - Its wood is incredibly rot-resistant, making it a favorite for fence posts that last ages! - Some people call it the "cigar tree" because its long, slender seed pods look just like cigars! - The tree's giant leaves can sometimes grow over a foot long, making them feel like elephant ears! ## Special abilities - **Super Seed Dispersal:** Southern catalpa has long, persistent seed pods that allow seeds to scatter gradually throughout winter, maximizing their chance to find good soil. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Its showy white flowers have purple and yellow markings that act as 'nectar guides,' directing insects straight to the pollen for efficient pollination. - **Fast Grower:** The southern catalpa can grow surprisingly fast, quickly establishing itself in sunny spots and reaching for the sky to get more sunlight. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1000-1800 cm - **Spread:** 600-1200 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** catalpa sphinx moth (*Ceratomia catalpae*) — Its leaves are the sole food source for these caterpillars. - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees are attracted to its nectar-rich, showy flowers. - **Shelter:** [eastern gray squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Provides shelter and nesting sites within its canopy. ## 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. - [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 Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify southern 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 southern catalpa? 1000-1800 cm ### How wide does southern catalpa spread? 600-1200 cm ### How big are the flowers on southern catalpa? 3-5 cm ### When does southern catalpa bloom? Summer ### Is southern catalpa edible? No ### Is southern catalpa toxic? Mild ### What is southern catalpa's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Fürstlich Greizer Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/furstlich-greizer-park) — Thüringen, DE · Park - [Ostdeutscher Rosengarten Forst (Lausitz)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ostdeutscher-rosengarten-forst-lausitz) — Brandenburg, DE · Park - [Stadtpark (Mainz)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stadtpark-mainz) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Park [View all places to see southern catalpa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-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: [Southern Catalpa: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-catalpa)