“…seed pods can reach up to 24 inches… its common name of “cigar tree”…”– Fun Facts
Whole tree, Catalpa speciosa (Grandmont, 2011)
Catalpa speciosa is currently recognized as separate from Catalpa bignonioides, but some consider C. speciosa as a variety of C. bignonioides. (Kirkbride & Olsen, 2011).
Catalpa speciosa resembles the Southern Catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides. Overall, the Western Catalpa is larger is all aspects: tree height, flower width, leave size, pod length and pod width (being 8-10(-15) mm wide) as compared to C. bignonioides (6-10 mm wide). Catalpa bignonioides’ leaves are abruptly acuminate (tapering to a narrow tip), while Catalpa speciosa’s leaves are more long-pointed (long-acuminate) (Breen, 2024). The Western Catalpa is said to smell ‘green’ when the leaves are crushed whereas the Southern Catalpa smells nasty.
The bean-like seed pods can reach up to 24 inches in length and give the tree its common name of “cigar tree” (Geyer & Broyles 2005).
Despite their bean-like appearance, Western Catalpa is more closely related to the trumpet vine Campsis radicans than to beans in the Legume family (POWO, 2024).
Native
Introduced
Prior to European settlement, C. speciosa was found natively in the Central Mississippi Valley Basin but was planted extensively by settlers across the Eastern USA for its wood, which is resistant to rot. Catalpa is a tree that hosts numerous insects and species of fungi (Geyers & Broyles, 2005). It grows in open, wet habitats and is a nectar source for bees, flies, and wasps (Taylor, 2013).
Western Catalpa is listed as ‘Apparently Secure’ in states where data has been taken (NatureServe, 2002).
