Southern Catalpa

Catalpa bignonioides 

Availability: 3g, 7g & 15g size

Tree
Max Size: 50′ tall x 35′ wide
Average Size: 40′ tall x 25′ wide

Loam, Sand, Clay
Full Sun, Part Shade
Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
No salt tolerance

AKA: Bean Tree, Cigar Tree, Worm Tree, Fish Bait Tree

This deciduous tree has a yellow fall color and blooms with white blossoms in the spring; the flowers are short lived but incredibly showy. The unique, winding form of the trunk and branches become bare and visually intriguing in winter. The fruits are inedible brown pods that look like long beans. The wood is extremely rot-resistant. In moist settings, it can send out root suckers that are easily managed by hand-pulling or mowing. The roots are extensive, so it is an excellent choice for soil stabilization along ponds, streams, or otherwise collapsing areas.

It attracts many pollinators including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It is the larval host for catalpa sphinx moth and tersa sphinx. It also attracts catawaba worms, which make a useful bait for fishing and become moths.

The wood is useful for posts, poles, rails, cabinet work, and interior finishes. A decoction of the bark has been historically used as a laxative. Fun fact: the genus name Catalpa is a Muskogean word for ‘tree.’

Additional sources: FNPS, Atlas of Florida Plants, NC State Extension, Florida Ethnobotany (Austin), Florida Wildflower Foundation