Catalpa speciosa
Shawnee Wood
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Catalpa genus in the family Bignoniaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Bignoniaceae
- Genus
- Catalpa
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 15 m
- Spread
- 15 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Wood - soft, not strong, light, coarse-grained, very durable in the soil[2][10][11][3]. It weighs 26lb per cubic foot[7]. It is largely used for fence posts and rails, telegraph poles etc, it is also occasionally used for making furniture, the interior finish of buildings etc. A very valuable timber tree in N. America[1][2][10][11][3].
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- Central N. America - Indiana and Illinois to Tennessee and Arkansas.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown outdoors, or in a cold frame, as soon as it is ripe[5]. Stratify stored seed for 3 weeks at 1°c and sow in spring[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Softwood cuttings, 10cm long, in a frame. They should be taken in late spring to early summer before the leaves are fully developed[5]. Root cuttings in winter[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a good moist loamy soil and a sunny position that is not exposed[1][2]. Tolerates heavy clay soils. Very resistant to atmospheric pollution[4]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c, probably more in continental climates[5], they grow best in areas with hot summers[4]. Protect plants from late frosts when they are young[5]. A fast-growing tree in the wild, where it commences to flower when about 15 years old[6]. Flowering is cyclic, with large crops of seed being produced every 2 - 3 years[6]. The wood is weak which often results in branches breaking off in strong winds[6]. When damaged by herbivores, the leaves produce extrafloral nectar that attracts insects which deter the leaf-eating herbivores[8]. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value[5]. Trees transplant easily[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X