Flowering starts after 275 growing degree days. Northern and southern catalpas are very similar in appearance, but the northern species has slightly larger leaves, flowers, and bean pods. The two North American species, Catalpa bignonioides (southern catalpa) and Catalpa speciosa (northern catalpa), have been widely planted outside their natural ranges as ornamental trees for their showy flowers and attractive shape. Most catalpas begin flowering after roughly three years, and produce fruit after about five years, although Haitian catalpa ( Catalpa longissima) can flower after six months growth from seed and produce seed after 18 months. Though Catalpa wood is quite soft, it is popular for turning and for furniture when well seasoned, being attractive, stable and easy to work. They do not present many threats of falling limbs, but the dark-brown fruit husks that they drop in late summer may be a nuisance. The large leaves and dense foliage of Catalpa species provide good shelter from rain and wind, making the trees an attractive habitat for many species of birds. In late summer or autumn the fruit appear they are siliques about 20–50 centimetres (8–20 in) long, full of small flat seeds, each with two thin wings to aid in wind dispersal. The flower colour generally is white to yellow. Catalpa species bear broad panicles of showy flowers, generally in summer. The appearance of the leaves sometimes causes confusion with species such as the unrelated tung tree ( Vernicia fordii) and Paulownia tomentosa. They have characteristic large, heart-shaped leaves, which in some species are three-lobed. They are fast growers and a 10-year-old sapling may stand about 6 metres (20 ft) tall. Most Catalpa are deciduous trees they typically grow to 12–18 metres (40–60 ft) tall, with branches spreading to a diameter of about 6–12 metres (20–40 ft).
"Beanpods" and leaf details of the northern catalpaĬatalpa, commonly called catalpa or catawba, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to warm temperate and subtropical regions of North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.
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