Fauna
Plant

Northern Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

Also known as Hardy Catalpa, Western Catalpa, Cigar Tree, Catawba

Northern catalpas command attention with giant heart-shaped leaves and springtime clusters of trumpet-shaped white flowers patterned with purple spots and yellow stripes. Dangling bean-like seed pods persist on branches throughout winter, earning the species its popular nickname of cigar tree. Highly adaptable to floodplains and urban soils alike, these fast-growing shade trees provide critical canopy shelter and host specialized caterpillars.

Deciduous TreeShowy FlowersHeart-Shaped Leaves
Northern Catalpa reference1 / 7
Mark Wagner / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Minerals
Predators
  • Catalpa Sphinx Moth
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Eastern Cottontail
ThreatsVerticillium Wilt, Heart Rot, Heavy Storm Damage
HabitatsRiparian Forests, Floodplains, Urban Parks, Disturbed Sites
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderLamiales
  2. FamilyBignoniaceae
  3. GenusCatalpa
  4. SpeciesCatalpa speciosa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Spring Flowers: Look for massive clusters of speckled, white trumpet blooms in late May or June.
  • Winter Silhouette: Identify bare trees by their persistent, long brown seed pods hanging from twigs.
  • Caterpillar Tracking: Scan the oversized leaf surfaces for colorful catalpa sphinx moth larvae.
Related species
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