Catalpa: description and photo of common species

The name of the plant is not familiar to anyone, but the tree itself is known to everyone who has ever been in the south. Catalpa - a tree that grows abundantly on the Black Sea coast. Those who came there in the summer could catch it in bloom. At the end of June, it is covered with abundant bells-flowers with small patches inside. For them, the tree is also called summer chestnut.

Bignonioid (Catalpa bignonioides)

Bignonia catalpa came to us from southeastern North America, where it grows on river plains and deciduous forests. He loves the soil is acidic, but at the same time it is cloudy and moist. It has a deep root system, very sensitive to damage. It grows up to 10 m in height. Shoots are arranged in the form of a funnel, forming an asymmetric crown. Covered with huge, up to 20 cm heart-shaped leaves, which initially have a pale yellow color, and closer to flowering - green. During flowering blooms yellowish-white flowers up to 30 cm with crimson specks inside. At the end of flowering, fruit pods up to 40 cm long appear on it, which turn brown in color by the end of the summer period. Fall off with the first frost. In our latitudes, has become widespread, for which it is also called the catalpa ordinary.

Nana (Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana')

Catalpa "Nana" in height reaches 6 m, forming a spherical compacted dense crown of spreading branches covered with thin lamellar light brown bark and light green heart-shaped leaves. Does not bloom and grows very slowly. Loves fresh loam, cereal and fertilized. This sort badly transfers strong heat and lack of water, so it must be plentiful and often watered. When growing catalps, it is necessary to take into account that the branches do not tolerate pruning and are sensitive to damage. The same applies to the root system, so you need to carefully loosen the earth around it and try not to replant it unnecessarily. Used in single plantings for landscaping parks, streets, as well as in groups as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Bunge (Catalpa bungei)

The species came to our latitudes from North China, so it received the second name "Manchurian catalpa". The official name received from the names of the German botanist Alexander Bunge. In 1830-1831, he was the first European to collect wood samples during an expedition to Asia.

Catalpa of this type is described by pyramidal crown. Triangular or oblong ovoid leaves have a wedge-shaped base, sometimes with sharp teeth on the sides. Bare leaves have a dark green shade that brightens closer to the petioles. Petioles reach a length of 8 cm, and the leaves themselves - 15 cm. Inflorescences grow up to 3.5 cm in length, going to 3-12 white corymbose flowers with purple spots. After their flowering fruits appear up to 25 cm in length. This catalpa requires careful care, it grows slowly, in northern latitudes it can freeze to the level of snow cover.

Gorgeous (Catalpa speciosa)

The view caught on perfectly in the middle lane, growing to 10 m in height. Erect flat trunk crowns spherical crown with very large oval leaves up to 25 cm. In mid-July, it is covered with abundant flowers of white or light cream color with yellow stripes and brown specks.

Flowers last from two weeks to a month depending on the region of growth. At the end of flowering fruits appear - long pods up to 40 cm. They remain on the tree until spring, but ripen by October. Catalpa magnificent has a species with special, slightly pubescent leaves, which is called pulverulent.

Tibetan (Catalpa tibetica)

This species is described later than all, in 1921, and is a bit like an ovoid species. This is a small tree up to 5 m in height, but more often a shrub that grows wild in mountain forests or bushes at an altitude of 2400-2700 m above sea level. The natural habitat is the north-west of Yunnan Province and the south-east of Tibet.

Broad, ovate leaves pubescent from below, naked above them, have a dark green tint. Size - 22-25 cm in width and length. Inflorescences hairless, quite large (25 cm), corymbose-paniculate.The flowers on them grow to 5 cm in diameter, have a yellowish-white color and light purple spots. Appear in the first half of summer. At the end of flowering cylindrical fruits appear up to 1 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length, striped and tapered towards the end. They contain oval seeds up to 2.5 cm.

Fargeza (Catalpa fargesii)

One of the largest types of catalpa. The tree grows up to 30 m in height in its natural habitat - in the south-west of China, in the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, even to tropical provinces. It mainly grows in the mountains. The leaves of the plant are of medium size - 12 cm wide and 20 cm long. Traditionally, the species has a triangular heart-shaped or ovoid shape. Depending on the subspecies, they can be practically naked with weak pubescence or leathery, thick with yellow pubescence from below. The flowers are medium and large light pink or light purple in color with specks of a darker shade. Collected in corytoscope brush of 7-15 flowers.Appear in the first half of summer. At the end of flowering appears a long cylindrical box up to 80 cm in length and only 5-6 mm in width, which narrows towards the end. In the middle there are small oblong oval seeds 9 mm long and 2.5 mm wide.

Egg (Catalpa ovata)

About 2 thousand years ago, this species was brought to Japan from China, where it became an indispensable plant near Buddhist temples. In 1849, came from Japan to Europe. The ovoid catalpa is a tree up to 15 m in height, which has a spherical crown. Bare branches are covered ovoid leaves up to 25 cm in length, often they have 3-5 pointed blades. The base of the leaf is heart-shaped, while the end is pointed. Petioles grow to 15 cm in length. The color of the leaves is green below with sparse pubescence along the veins, and the top color is dull green. A characteristic feature - unusual, as for catalps, small flowers.Grow up to 2 cm, have a yellowish color, orange stripes and dark purple blotches. They appear in July-August, after which in their place are formed fruit pods up to 30 cm in length and 0.8 cm in width. But in our latitudes they may not be tied up, and if they appear, they do not have time to mature. Therefore, this catalpa, we have only vegetative reproduction. Under favorable conditions, can bloom even in the first year of life. In the middle zone, it is grown mainly as a shrub, less often a tree up to 5 m in height, often frosting. On the territory of the Far East, even freezing is able to bear fruit. The only area where the tree reaches its natural size is the Black Sea coast.

Hybrid (Catalpa x hybrida Spath)

The tree of this species will grow to 20 m in height, forming a broad rounded crown with spreading branches. They are covered with large up to 15 cm wide and 20 cm in length of the leaves, which have a green color and slight pubescence.

Loose white inflorescences erect with two yellowish stripes inside and brown patches. The flowering period is about 25 days. It is covered with flowers abundantly once a year. Upon completion, the fruits are formed in the form of narrow boxes. The tree loves sunny places without drafts and winds. Loves a slightly acidic soil saturated with organic fertilizers. In the southern regions, the tree should be watered frequently, and after watering, loosen and mulch the soil around the trunk. It tolerates pruning, after which it intensively releases new shoots. Looks beautiful in a group with magnolias and oaks. Suitable for both group and single plantings for the formation of alleys and street plantings.

Catalpa is represented in our latitudes by several types. Ornamental and heat-loving plants can be grown not only in the southern but also in the northern regions.

Unusually large leaves look very decorative, complemented by abundant beautiful flowers, bells with contrasting stripes and splashes. With proper care, the tree is able to withstand severe frosts. Great for gardening streets and garden decorations.