Appearance

Growth form

This deciduous tree usually grows about 20–30 ft (6–9 m) tall in cultivation.

Leaves

The broad leaves are heart-shaped at the base; some have three to five shallow lobes.

Flowers

Clusters of small, pale yellow flowers have purple and orange markings.

Flowering time

In the Upper Midwest, flowers appear in late spring.

Fruit

Long, narrow pods turn brown and split in fall, releasing winged seeds.

Look-alikes

northern catalpaCatalpa speciosa

Northern catalpa has larger, mostly white flowers. Chinese catalpa's smaller flowers have a clear yellow cast.

Why they get mixed up · Both carry broad leaves and long pods.

Images coming soon

princess treePaulownia tomentosa

Princess tree has lavender spring flowers and rounded woody capsules. Chinese catalpa has yellowish flowers and long, thin pods.

Why they get mixed up · Both have very large leaves.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Parks and streets
• Gardens

Range

Native to China, it is planted in the United States and has naturalized in some areas.

Preferred conditions

It grows in sun or partial shade and tolerates both damp and relatively dry soils.

Connected species

Ties with other wildlife

In the United States, its leaves can feed caterpillars of the catalpa sphinx and tersa sphinx moths.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• Yellow catalpa is another name for this tree, referring to its pale flowers.