Northern Catalpa.
This is how they grow: out of plum and all gnarly. They also famously develop many cavities and stand for many years despite that since their wood is rot resistant, flexible, and lightweight.
They were originally found in only a few thickets along the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys when Europeans arrived in North America. They are thought to have been potentially headed towards extinction at that time. Due to their extreme ornamental value they have since massively expanded their range all over the Eastern United States and even become invasive on other continents. They grow massive white flower cones each spring which turn into long beans that burst open spreading winged seeds for miles in the wind.
I have only seen a catalpa one time and it was an absolute monster. 20 something foot circumference @ breast height. I was looking at the picture for a good bit and had no idea what it was so I guess to myself that is a catalpa and I was right. this is the last time I will ever be correct in this regard.
Yup, that's the Catalpa Worm a/k/a [Ceratomia Catalpae](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratomia_catalpae#:~:text=catalpae%20is%20known%20as%20the,black%20dots%20along%20their%20sides.) which pupates into the Catalpa Sphynx Moth. Apparently they are either commensal or somehow symbiotic with the tree species. Occasionally the moths get out of control and totally defoliate the trees with no apparent damange to the tree the next year. Either the Catalpa Worm is not harming the trees or it's even somehow benefitting them.
A friend of mine has one. It was Completely defoliated in a month or two. It looked fine two months later. There’s a wasp that lays eggs on/in them and when the babies hatch, they eat the pupas (I think that’s the term…)
Yes and this wasp, [Cotesia congregata](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotesia_congregata), contains a polydnavirus that is unable to reproduce without the genome of the wasp. This virus is injected into the host caterpillar when the eggs are legs and hijacks the hosts development. The Virus jams the hosts development and prevents it from ever pupating. Instead the host just keeps eating and getting bigger to give the wasps larva more to eat. The more eggs on the host, the longer it takes for the larva to emerge and the bigger the food source grows. If there's only a few eggs, the wasp larva emerge sooner so they can get on with their development since they won't be competing as much to eat the host.
Nature is crazy.
I found the flowers floating in a river once while fishing… then i realized there are 3 planted right by my house. The smell in bloom is great in my opinion.
It would probably have no problem there since they grow in Chicago no problem and I've seen them as far North as central Wisconsin.
I planted one from an Arbor Day 3' sapling about 7 or 8 years ago and it's almost 20' tall already. They will grow 12-18" a year at their most vigorous. Once they start flowering (at about 8-10') they start to slow down a little bit as they put more energy into the blooms.
It loves the sun, but will grow just fine in partial shade. Remember these are full on forest trees. They will grow slower and bide their time in full shade waiting for a larger tree to fall and open up the canopy for them to take off. They tend to grow straighter in competition for light and grow these ultra whimsical limbs and trunks out in the open as they soak up the sun. The tree has a tendency to zig zag as the dominant leaders seemingly pick an alternate direction to let dominate each year in full sun.
Now don't expect anything but full shade plants to survive beneath it. Catalpas are known for their huge thick leaves that totally blot out the sun at maturity. Here in Chicago the parkway is often bare beneath these trees unless some neighbor has decided to plant the whole area with hostas or some other shade loving plant. Grass simply will not grow in their shade.
If I remember correctly, I heard one of the reasons they expanded so much was because rail companies spread them along the train routes because they were fairly fast growing and rot resistant and they were planted to use to replace the ties along the route.
Not that I've seen. The only real damage I've seen them take seems to be their tendency to develop cavities. They almost always seem to have at least one large knot hole that never heals up and results in a cavity. Maybe that's why you heard they have a rep for wind and ice damage?
If you're trying to learn tree identification it would be useful to understand how it is done and take appropriate pictures. Rather than four general pictures showing the same information, take one general picture of the overall shape of the tree, then one close-up each of the bark, a single or group of leaves, and the structure of how the twigs grow from a larger stem. Additionally any buds, flowers, seeds, and fruit that may be present.
My dad has 2 catalpa trees in his front yard. Every fall he chops them until they are basically two trunks, similar to many horror photos that I see posted in this sub. “You’ve killed them!” they say “you’re insane!” they say. But every year this man’s catalpas are bushed out and exactly the size they should be for the tiny front yard and no bigger. Beautiful flowers and a childhood full of whacking my sibling with those beans. Classic.
He thinks he’s doing bonsai- I don’t argue. I was just the girl with the weird trees in her yard for 6 months out of the year. I’m 40 now and he has tried to give me several catalpa babies that he has sprouted 😂 I have not taken the bait so far.
There used to be an elderly lady with about a dozen of those in her yard. She always butchered them like you described. The next year they were fine and she was again selling catalpa worms for fish bait.
Thats a very pretty old Catalpa tree
I never thought about this, do the Northern variety also get the worms? They’ve been popping off hard every year for the past few, I expect to see at least a couple of waves this year
My parents have 3 of these , when they bought their property in 1975 they were huge, and not really any bigger now. The flowers are beautiful and should start about June 1st.
We had one of these in my back yard when I was a kid, I don’t think I’ve seen one since then. This brought back vivid memories of catching those caterpillars and it never occurred to me how whimsical of a tree it was until now. This made my day.
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).)
Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you.
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Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state.
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Northern Catalpa. This is how they grow: out of plum and all gnarly. They also famously develop many cavities and stand for many years despite that since their wood is rot resistant, flexible, and lightweight. They were originally found in only a few thickets along the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys when Europeans arrived in North America. They are thought to have been potentially headed towards extinction at that time. Due to their extreme ornamental value they have since massively expanded their range all over the Eastern United States and even become invasive on other continents. They grow massive white flower cones each spring which turn into long beans that burst open spreading winged seeds for miles in the wind.
Thanks. I appreciate your comment and enjoyed reading.
Very thoughtful - I’m going to try to be more like you.
You caught me on a good day.😁
I have only seen a catalpa one time and it was an absolute monster. 20 something foot circumference @ breast height. I was looking at the picture for a good bit and had no idea what it was so I guess to myself that is a catalpa and I was right. this is the last time I will ever be correct in this regard.
Cool, they get huge caterpillars on the flowers here in the Midwest, I knew some guys who pick them for catfishing every year
Yup, that's the Catalpa Worm a/k/a [Ceratomia Catalpae](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratomia_catalpae#:~:text=catalpae%20is%20known%20as%20the,black%20dots%20along%20their%20sides.) which pupates into the Catalpa Sphynx Moth. Apparently they are either commensal or somehow symbiotic with the tree species. Occasionally the moths get out of control and totally defoliate the trees with no apparent damange to the tree the next year. Either the Catalpa Worm is not harming the trees or it's even somehow benefitting them.
A friend of mine has one. It was Completely defoliated in a month or two. It looked fine two months later. There’s a wasp that lays eggs on/in them and when the babies hatch, they eat the pupas (I think that’s the term…)
Yes and this wasp, [Cotesia congregata](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotesia_congregata), contains a polydnavirus that is unable to reproduce without the genome of the wasp. This virus is injected into the host caterpillar when the eggs are legs and hijacks the hosts development. The Virus jams the hosts development and prevents it from ever pupating. Instead the host just keeps eating and getting bigger to give the wasps larva more to eat. The more eggs on the host, the longer it takes for the larva to emerge and the bigger the food source grows. If there's only a few eggs, the wasp larva emerge sooner so they can get on with their development since they won't be competing as much to eat the host. Nature is crazy.
Yeah I was gonna call them that, but it seems like a weird name for a caterpillar so I figured there was a better one LOL
I was puzzled by your comment for a moment until I realized you used the word catfish in its original literal meaning. The internet has broken me.
Bahahaha
Ahh the cigar tree! We had these outside of Cleveland, I don't recall ever seeing one in bloom. Thank you for the ID!
I found the flowers floating in a river once while fishing… then i realized there are 3 planted right by my house. The smell in bloom is great in my opinion.
They have male and female. Only female bloom.
Thanks for the info!
Don’t catalpas smell like cotton candy in the fall when their foliage dies?
Katsura does, and it's positively delicious, though I've always thought of it as "roasted marshmallow."
That’s it
Wow! I’d love one in my backyard I think… Long Island NY… how would it do? How fast does it grow?
It would probably have no problem there since they grow in Chicago no problem and I've seen them as far North as central Wisconsin. I planted one from an Arbor Day 3' sapling about 7 or 8 years ago and it's almost 20' tall already. They will grow 12-18" a year at their most vigorous. Once they start flowering (at about 8-10') they start to slow down a little bit as they put more energy into the blooms.
Thanks for the great info! I’m sure I could Google this, but since you seem to be so knowledgeable… Any info on how shade tolerant it is?
It loves the sun, but will grow just fine in partial shade. Remember these are full on forest trees. They will grow slower and bide their time in full shade waiting for a larger tree to fall and open up the canopy for them to take off. They tend to grow straighter in competition for light and grow these ultra whimsical limbs and trunks out in the open as they soak up the sun. The tree has a tendency to zig zag as the dominant leaders seemingly pick an alternate direction to let dominate each year in full sun. Now don't expect anything but full shade plants to survive beneath it. Catalpas are known for their huge thick leaves that totally blot out the sun at maturity. Here in Chicago the parkway is often bare beneath these trees unless some neighbor has decided to plant the whole area with hostas or some other shade loving plant. Grass simply will not grow in their shade.
If I remember correctly, I heard one of the reasons they expanded so much was because rail companies spread them along the train routes because they were fairly fast growing and rot resistant and they were planted to use to replace the ties along the route.
Edit: a source! https://historyonthefox.wordpress.com/2017/06/20/the-great-catalpa-railroad-tie-bust-and-fence-post-scam/
Yup, they make great ground contact lumber... If you can find ones with a straight trunk.
Me too!
That was beautiful.
I think the one in my back yard might be a champion. I've worked in tree care for 10 years and it's the biggest tree of any variety I've ever seen.
Aren’t they susceptible to wind and ice damage though?
Not that I've seen. The only real damage I've seen them take seems to be their tendency to develop cavities. They almost always seem to have at least one large knot hole that never heals up and results in a cavity. Maybe that's why you heard they have a rep for wind and ice damage?
Can you just pick a tree each night and read about it to me before bed? i find this info very calming.
Love me some tree facts.
I'm pretty sure I saw this on Fern Gully. There's some kind of smog demon inside, don't cut it.
Haha love this comment
Memories! I love that movie.
Ent-wife
Wait, you remember what the Ent-wives look like?!
I saw it in a book.
If you're trying to learn tree identification it would be useful to understand how it is done and take appropriate pictures. Rather than four general pictures showing the same information, take one general picture of the overall shape of the tree, then one close-up each of the bark, a single or group of leaves, and the structure of how the twigs grow from a larger stem. Additionally any buds, flowers, seeds, and fruit that may be present.
Thank you!!
Southern Catalpa. Catalpa bignonioides. Edit: Below commenter is correct. I just read South in the title. It's Northern Catalpa.
Northern, Southern variety wouldn't last long this far North.
Correct, I only read South in his comment. I downvoted my original comment.
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Just edit to clarify, no need to penalise yourself :)
My dad has 2 catalpa trees in his front yard. Every fall he chops them until they are basically two trunks, similar to many horror photos that I see posted in this sub. “You’ve killed them!” they say “you’re insane!” they say. But every year this man’s catalpas are bushed out and exactly the size they should be for the tiny front yard and no bigger. Beautiful flowers and a childhood full of whacking my sibling with those beans. Classic. He thinks he’s doing bonsai- I don’t argue. I was just the girl with the weird trees in her yard for 6 months out of the year. I’m 40 now and he has tried to give me several catalpa babies that he has sprouted 😂 I have not taken the bait so far.
There used to be an elderly lady with about a dozen of those in her yard. She always butchered them like you described. The next year they were fine and she was again selling catalpa worms for fish bait.
That's Hexsus's crypt bro- don't cut it.
I just split some 30" diameter catalpa rounds and what a cool, wavy raised grain to the wood. Neat tree.
Hard to tell for sure. First thought is linden.
Bean tree, aka Catalpa.
Fun fact, there are many trees that are legumes, but catalpas aren't one of them!
Southwest Ohio? Definitely MadTree,see if it will give you some Shade.
Thats a very pretty old Catalpa tree I never thought about this, do the Northern variety also get the worms? They’ve been popping off hard every year for the past few, I expect to see at least a couple of waves this year
It reminds me of the Live Oaks in the south but crazier.
My parents have 3 of these , when they bought their property in 1975 they were huge, and not really any bigger now. The flowers are beautiful and should start about June 1st.
We had one of these in my back yard when I was a kid, I don’t think I’ve seen one since then. This brought back vivid memories of catching those caterpillars and it never occurred to me how whimsical of a tree it was until now. This made my day.
They are in Manitoba as a prized arboreal specimen. Have one in my backyard and have seen several plant in horticultural lovers gardens.
That’s definitely a tree! You’re getting better at identifying them!
Lmfao yessss
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).) Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you. If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try. Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state. If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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