Northern Catalpa Tree

"The Catalpa Tree is native to the rich bottomlands of the central Mississippi River basin but the catalpa has been widely planted all across the eastern United States. It can be grown to 6,000 feet elevation, hardy for zones 4-8. Delightfully fragrant flowers in Spring and provides dense shade. Farmers originally introduced catalpa into Ohio. They bought and planted whole groves of catalpa seedlings, which were later cut for fence posts. Catalpa wood is very durable in contact with soil. About 90 percent of all catalpa cut is made into fence posts. Because of its showy flowers, which appear in May or early June, northern catalpa has also been extensively planted as an ornamental yard tree. This tree grows rapidly at first but slows significantly once mature size has been reached."

"Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester, PA."

Catalpa Speciosa