Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa · Bignoniaceae (Trumpet Creeper family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Cordate (heart-shaped) with an acuminate tip and entire margins, lacking lobes
Margin
Entire (smooth, unbroken edge)
Arrangement
Whorled (typically three leaves per node) or occasionally opposite
Venation
Palmate-pinnate transition with prominent pale white-green primary and secondary veins radiating and branching from the base
Key Features
Massive heart-shaped leaves arranged in whorls of three, distinctive long slender bean-like seed pods (up to 20 inches long), and showy trumpet-shaped white flowers
Description
Northern Catalpa is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its exceptionally large, heart-shaped leaves, showy orchid-like white flowers with purple and yellow markings, and long, cigar-like seed pods that persist through the winter. It features a somewhat irregular, open crown and rugged, furrowed bark.
Habitat
Prefers moist, deep, fertile soils along riverbanks, floodplains, and stream edges, but highly adaptable to urban environments, tolerating poor drainage and various soil pH levels in full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to the Midwestern United States, particularly the Mississippi River basin, but widely planted and naturalized across much of North America and temperate regions worldwide