Chinese catalpa is a small, deciduous, flowering tree native to China. It is a member of the trumpetvine family (Bignoniaceae). The name Catalpa is derived from the Muscogee name for the tree, "kutuhlpa," and the species epithet means “ovate” and describes the shape of the leaves. It prefers moist, loamy soil, high in organic matter, but it will tolerate drier, less fertile sites. It grows in full sun to partial shade. It self-seeds easily and has naturalized in some areas of the USA. In its mature form it can be an attractive, rounded shade tree, but it often grows out of shape. Its large leaves can become damaged as the growing season progresses making them less attractive. The pale yellow flowers distinguish the Chinese catalpa from the two other catalpas that are native to the USA. Although not native, it is a host to two native moths, the catalpa sphinx ( Ceratomia catalpae ) and the tersa sphinx ( Xylophanes tersa ) , which are important food sources for birds and bats. It is an ideal tree for that tricky low wet spot or an area with poor soils. It is suitable for an Asian garden, a butterfly garden or rain garden, but this species is showing signs of becoming invasive. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Catalpa sphinx moth caterpillars can do significant damage. Mildew, twig blight, verticillium wilt, and leaf spots are occasional problems. Leaves can become damaged and look unsightly from wind or hail.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Large 10" long and wide ovate light green entire to lobed margins. Cordate at the base and pointed at the tips. Smooth except for hairy veins on the undersides. insignificant yellow fall color.
Fall color
Insignificant
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
3/4" yellow-white with purple and orange spots, bell-shaped flowers on 10" long panicles. Flowers that resemble orchids appear in late spring, not as showy as C. bignoniodes.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Slender green seed pods mature to brown 16" long 1/3" wide split lengthwise to reveal white fluffy seeds
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Ridged and fissured gray-brown
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Wildlife value
Larval food source for the sphix moth and tersa spinx caterpillars.
Attracts
Moths
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Easy to Grow; Shade; Wildlife Larval Host
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Rain Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Shade Tree
Garden tags
#wind dispersed seeds #flowers late spring #naturalizes #deciduous #deciduous tree #weak wood #self-seeding #deer resistant #flowering tree #showy flowers #larval host plant #shade tree #moth caterpillar host #poor drainage tolerant #wildlife friendly #moth friendly #poor soil tolerant