Catalpa bignonioides
tulip tree
Common names: broadleaf catalpa, catalpa tree
Photo: Le.Loup.Gris · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
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Description
The tulip tree, 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 tulip tree 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.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, nutrient-rich, humus-rich, moist
Feeding
Medium feeder
Pruning
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