These giant natives are full of cultural significance and countless white flowers
I love catalpa tree ( Catalpaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) . If you travel throughthe South , you might often find them as terrific specimen in Progressive - era neighborhoods and older city parks . They turn alongroadsidesand among a variety of species in fencerows . Often Indian bean are not glamorously place in thelandscape . You might first notice one when you trip over its roots as it raise an urban pavement , or on a stroll through your city ’s sure-enough burial site . However , there is more to this tree diagram than what you might see on the surface . It is deeply settle in the landscape painting and the history of the South .
Learn more : A Dogwood Quartet for the Southeast
Northern vs. Southern
There are two distinct species of catalpa in cultivation : the Northern Indian bean ( Catalpa speciosa , Zones 4–8 ) and the Southern catalpa ( Catalpa bignonioides , Zones 5–9 ) . The northerly catalpa has a taller trunk with vertically furrow bark ; the Southern catalpa is more low-set and has bark that exfoliate in scale or flake . The Southern catalpa has more flush while in bloom , but they are slightly small than those of the Northern catalpa .
Distribution throughout the South
The Northern catalpa ’s modernistic aboriginal range is primarily the state of Ohio , Indiana , Illinois , Missouri , Arkansas , Kentucky , and Tennessee . southerly catalpa ’s modern aboriginal range is primarily Georgia , Mississippi , Florida , Alabama , and Louisiana . However , there is overlap , and even some of the most knowledgeable plantsman have a hard clock time string together an explanation of the difference in compass between the two specie . It is thought that before European colonisation these two species occupy nonoverlapping kitchen range in their original wild state , with the Southern Indian bean having the most special geographic distribution of only central Alabama and Mississippi down to westerly Florida . Catalpa owe some of its geographic statistical distribution to the expansion of railway in the 1870s . It was planted in large quantities with the design of develop wood for railroad ties . The trees are tight growing , rot resistant , and light to force a capitulum into . alas , the wood ended up being too weak to support rail traffic .
A snowstorm of white blooms open in late spring
The bloom time of both catalpa species can change depending on where you are in the South . The Northern catalpa will often blossom a few weeks before the Southern catalpa . You will often see catalpa in full bloom starting the last two calendar week of May . This is perfect timing , as it can act as a nosepiece plant life between spring- and summer - blooming trees . I postulate Dr. Andrew Bell , executive director of theNashville Tree Foundation , for his idea on catalpa . “ The Indian bean ’s ultimate prize is its flower , ” he said . “ As the outpouring - flowering season is wrapping up , catalpa is among the last to perform . Large white flowers , each with the most challenging purple markings , channelize pollinator into compacted , heavy panicle at the remnant of almost every arm . ” With the catalpa , you do n’t just get shade — you get a spectacular show of bloom .
The most beloved pest in the South
First , if catalpa ( ka - tal - pa ) ever comes up in conversation in the South , you may turn tail into some alternative pronunciations . You will often hear “ catawba ” ( cuh - tah - buh ) , and the next matter you will pick up about is the catawba worm . Catawba worms are actually catalpa sphinx caterpillars ( Ceratomia catalpae ) , and they are subject of defoliating a large catalpa in a relatively short period of time . This often happen in the heating of the summertime between mid - June and the 4th of July . monkfish across the South dirty money these caterpillars as the absolute best Pisces lure usable during eminent summertime .
What is the catawba worm?
I turn to Prof. Peter VanZandt , chair of the biological science section at Birmingham - Southern College in Alabama for more data on this pest . He replied that a catalpa sphinx caterpillar is “ an easy recognizable , perhaps even showy , juvenile bod of a moth ( which is especially bland for a sphingid ) . ” He persist in : “ They only eat two type of host plant life — leaves of Northern or southerly catalpa tree diagram . In the grownup , winged stage of life history , they have no mouth and can not fertilize , so their brief winged life is altogether dependent on the reserves built up as foraging cat . ”
What role do catawba worms and their host trees play in the South?
They sometimes decimate foliage with their feeding , but trees just regrow their leave of absence and do n’t appear to be harm . It seems alternatively as if the biggest impact might be cultural . Prof. VanZandt explicate : “ The catalpa sphinx cat have a cultural traditional knowledge about them where citizenry trust they ’re wizard Pisces the Fishes bait . People guard their locations cautiously , and there ’s even some evidence that citizenry have engraft catalpa trees near fishing sites in hopes of cause ready access to this bait . ” The term “ wolf fish candy ” is often used by those fishing with this bait , which only comes around once a year — that is , unless you buy them frozen or freeze some yourself .
Legitimate and worthwhile garden specimens
Catalpa is a extremity of the bignonia family line ( Bignoniaceae ) , which is largely compose of tropic plants . My overall assessment is that young catalpa trees are not much to face at in the landscape . However , when they get some age on them , they transform into one of the most prominent trees that can be found in the Southern garden . At maturity they can grow to be 50 feet or more high and 30 feet or more wide . The silhouette of a catalpa in winter is something to behold and will hold the gaze of almost anyone .
Growing your own
If you want a Indian bean in your landscape painting , make out that they are seldom found in retail garden centers . However , there are on-line source you’re able to try , as well as sweeping growers acquire larger trees for the landscape painting market . you’re able to also simply grasp up a tempestuous one yourself . Catalpa trees are very tolerant of different grunge conditions but see their preferent home in moist , rich soil . When prefer a locating for a catalpa , ensure you provide plenty of room for the tree diagram to acquire into its full graphic symbol . Perhaps now is the time for new gardener to rediscover this wonderful aboriginal tree and find ways to incorporate it into the landscape . And anyone can become an counselor for this tree in local parks and greenway .
— Andy Pulte is a faculty member in the plant sciences department at the University of Tennessee .
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Catalpas can grow over 50 feet tall and are impossible to miss in full bloom.Photo: Andy Pulte
Despite being grown to harvest for lumber to make railroad ties, catalpa wood was ultimately too weak to do the job.Photo: Andy Pulte
Despite being grown to harvest for lumber to make railroad ties, catalpa wood was ultimately too weak to do the job.Photo: Andy Pulte
Catalpas are one of the last spring-flowering trees to put on a show.Photo: Andy Pulte
Catawba worms are prized bait among Southern fishermen.Photo: Dr. Peter VanZandt
Catawba worms that escape the mouths of hungry fish and natural predators grow into rather plain-looking sphinx moths.Photo: U.S. National Park Service
Catalpa trees may have been planted next to bodies of water purposefully by fishermen.Photo: Andy Pulte
These towering trees begin to look very stately and graceful as they age and grow.Photo: Andy Pulte
These two lovely Northern catalpas provide shade and a carpet of flowers in this formal park setting.Photo: Andy Pulte
