SCIENTIFIC NAME: Catalpa bignonioides

COMMON NAME: southern catalpa

LEAVES: Whorled with 3 leaves per node. Heart shaped (cordate) leaf with little to no pubescence. Can be 1' in length. Light green.

FRUIT: Long capsule which may exceed a foot in length.

FLOWERS: Large clusters of white flowers in April and May. Each flower has purple markings in the middle. Very attractive.

BARK:

OTHER: Grows up to 30' tall. Called fisherman's tree because catalpa worms which eat the leaves of this genus are used to catch fish. Catalpa worms may completely defoliate tree by mid to late summer. Drops its leaves early and is not a long lived species. A member of the Bignoniaceae family. Generally not an attractive landscape tree except to fishermen.