Catalpa bignonioides
Southern catalpa
Common names: Indian bean tree, Cigar tree
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Feb–Mar
- Flowering
- Jun–Jul
Photo: Le.Loup.Gris · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Description
The southern catalpa, botanically Catalpa bignonioides, is a summer‑green tree with large, heart‑shaped leaves and a loose, wide‑spreading canopy. From June to July (weeks 24 to 28), upright white flower spikes with yellow and violet markings appear, strongly resembling horse chestnut blossoms and attracting bees and bumblebees. In late summer, long, slender pods form, giving the tree its nickname bean tree, and hang on the tree until winter. As a city tree it is robust against heat, drought, and soil compaction, which is why it is often found in parks and along avenues. For a home garden it is suitable only if ample space is available, as mature specimens reach impressive heights and canopy widths.
Care instructions
Plant the catalpa in a wind‑protected, sunny location, because its large leaves provide a large surface area for water loss. In the first two to three years, water regularly during dry periods; later it copes well on its own. Pruning is usually unnecessary; if you wish to shape the crown, do so in late winter before bud break. Seedlings benefit from a mulch layer around the root zone in the first winter; older trees are winter‑hardy. Ensure sufficient distance from paths, as the leaf crown and later falling pods require space.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Jul
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, nutrient-rich, humus-rich, moist
The Indian bean tree likes deep, humus-rich soil that holds moisture but shows no waterlogging. Sandy to loamy mixes with good drainage suit it best. On very dry, poor sites it grows much more slowly and flowers less.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar, May
In spring, work one dose of mature compost shallowly into the root zone; that is usually enough for the whole season. A second, light dose of compost in May additionally supports leaf growth and flowering. Mulch of leaves or bark humus retains moisture and also releases nutrients as it breaks down.
Pruning
In the first years after planting, build a stable leading shoot and remove competing shoots. Later it is enough to cut out dead or crossing branches in late winter before growth starts. The Indian bean tree tolerates pruning well and reliably re-sprouts.
Overwintering
As an established tree, the Indian bean tree is quite hardy in Central Europe and needs no special protection. Young, freshly planted trees benefit in the first one to two winters from a mulch layer over the root zone against frost without snow cover. A sunny, wind-sheltered site helps young shoots to ripen well.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Layering
Indian bean trees grown from seed need several years to first flowering, but the genetic diversity of the species is preserved. Quicker is semi-ripe cuttings in summer, which root well in free-draining substrate. Layering of low-hanging branches can also be rooted with a little patience and then separated. Young plants grow briskly in the first years if site and water supply are right.
For your garden
Grow Southern catalpa yourself
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