Catalpa bignonioides Walter

Southern Catalpa; Cigar Tree; Caterpillar Tree

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Catalpa is a fast growing but short lived native deciduous tree. It can be found throughout the state. In the wild it is primarily found on creek banks and floodplains. However it has been widely cultivated and can now be found in many different habitats. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions from wet to dry nutrient poor soils. Southern Catalpa is a fast growing, but often crooked tree reaching heights of 60 feet. The bark is brown or gray in color and broken into thin plates. White lenticels are prominent on young twigs. The leaves are primarily opposite, but whorled leaves are not un-common. The long petiolate leaves are cordate in outline with entire margins. The leaves have small glands between the veins that secrete nectar. This attracts ants which help to remove insects feeding on the leaves. Flowers are produced in panicles at the tips of the branches. The trumpet shaped flowers are white in color with gold lines and purple spots within the throat. These spots and lines act as bee guides, directing pollinators to the interior of the flower. The fruit is a long cylindrical capsule that splits to release many flat, winged seed. Southern Catalpa wood is very rot resistant, and it is often used for fence post and railroad ties. The small size of the tree and its crooked growth form limits its use for other purposes. Southern Catalpa is often cultivated for “catalpa worms” which are prized fish bait. The “worms” are the caterpillars of the Catalpa Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia catalpae). Another common name for this plant is “cigar tree” or “Indian cigar”. Children once collected and smoked the fruit for their mild narcotic effect. Many Southerners call these trees “catawba”, which was the original name given to them by the Catawba tribe of North and South Carolina. The mistake in the scientific name is due to a transcription error during the description of the genus. Southern Catalpa is available from nurseries, including several forms.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC- (NWPL)

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