Catalpa bignonioides

COMMON NAME: Southern Catalpa; Common Catalpa

FAMILY: Bignonia Family or Trumpet Creeper Family; Bignoniaceae

GROWTH HABIT: Medium sized tree, 40 - 60 ft in height with a spread of 20- 40 ft.

FOLIAGE: Simple, opposite or whorled, deciduous. Heart-shaped, 6 - 12 in. long. Apex abruptly gradually jointed; base heart-shaped, rounded, straight across, or just barely wedge-shaped. Leaf gives off a foul odor when crushed.

BUDS: End buds false.

BARK: Brayish brown on old trunks usually exhibing a ridged and furrowed character although some trees exhibit a thick, scaly bark.

FLOWERS: Blooms in early or mid-June. Individual blossoms are not quite as wide, only about 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 In. across, but are marked with yellow, orange, and purple.

FRUIT: Bean-like fruit capsule. 8 - 20 in. long, remaining on the tree into winter.

NATIVE HABITAT: Gulf coast states from Florida to Louisiana.