Choose catalpa by hardiness and leaf color first: northern, southern, or golden. We list those three.
Choose northern, southern, or golden catalpa
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Northern | Colder gardens; earlier white panicles; taller tree | Expecting a compact courtyard tree |
| Southern | Warmer gardens; denser flower show; slightly smaller | Crushing leaves next to a patio seat |
| Golden | Yellow-green foliage in sun | Deep shade that greens the gold out |
Know your USDA hardiness zone before you pick a type of catalpa that will take your winter. Type your ZIP below.
2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.
Lock hardiness and leaf color first. Nursery sticks all say catalpa or cigar tree. Northern bark furrows vertically; southern bark flakes in scales. [3] Southern catalpa carries more flowers, each a bit smaller than northern.
Northern vs southern catalpa?
Northern is taller, colder-hardy, and blooms earlier. Southern is shorter, later, and more heavily spotted. Golden is a yellow-leaf southern selection.
Browse by kind
Northern catalpa
Northern catalpa (C. speciosa) is the colder-hardy cigar tree. It blooms earlier than southern, with a milder crushed-leaf smell and a taller trunk. [1]
Southern catalpa
Southern catalpa (C. bignonioides) stays shorter, flowers later, and packs more purple spotting in the throat. Crushed leaves smell unpleasant. [2]
Golden catalpa
Golden catalpa (‘Aurea’) is the yellow-green southern selection. Bronze new growth fades toward chartreuse. Clone it from a cutting if you want that leaf color back.
Not catalpa — princess tree and other lookalikes
- Princess tree — Paulownia tomentosa, an invasive with similar heart leaves and a showy purple cluster. Confirm Catalpa on the tag. [4]
- Kentucky coffee tree — Gymnocladus, not a catalpa, despite “bean tree” search noise.
- Names we do not list as cards — Chinese catalpa (C. ovata), dwarf ‘Nana’, ‘Purpurea’, desert willow, and chitalpa. Those SKUs are not in this catalog.
Is catalpa the same as princess tree?
No. Catalpa is native catalpa. Princess tree is Paulownia, usually with purple flowers and a weedy seed rain. Confirm Catalpa on the tag.
If the tag only says catalpa, check hardiness and leaf color before you buy — golden is the yellow one.
FAQ
Is catawba the same tree?
In the South, catawba is a folk name for catalpa, and catawba worms are catalpa sphinx caterpillars. It is not the Catawba grape.
Do you list Chinese catalpa or Nana?
No. We list northern, southern, and golden Aurea. Chinese catalpa and dwarf Nana are real plants elsewhere, not cards here.
Why crush a leaf?
Southern catalpa smells unpleasant when bruised. Northern smells greener. Use that plus bloom timing if the tag only says catalpa.
Related guides
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/catalpa-speciosa/ - [2] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/catalpa-bignonioides/ - [3] Fine Gardening -
https://www.finegardening.com/article/catalpa-trees-catawba-worms-and-southern-lore - [4] Clemson Extension / South Carolina Public Radio -
https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/nature/2018-09-28/plant-catalpa-not-princess-tree
This note is part of Catalpa Guides.
More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors