The Catalpa Tree and Its Caterpillers

By Steve Nix, About.com Guide

Catalpas are very adaptable and tough trees, having well adapted or naturalized in many parts of the southern United States. Catalpa is often used as a land reclamation plant because it successfully grows where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought can become a problem for other species. It produces lots of shade and is a fast grower.

The largest living catalpa tree is on the lawn of the Michigan State Capitol, which was planted at the time the Capitol was dedicated in 1873. The oldest known living catalpa tree is actually in the United Kingdom, a 150-year-old specimen in the Minster graveyard of St Mary's Butts in the town of Reading, Berkshire.

Young catalpa trees are beautiful green standouts with giant green leaves that can sometimes be confused with tung trees and royal paulownia in the southern U.S. Catalpa seedlings are somewhat available, but you may have to go out of your region to find the tree. Catawba's USDA hardiness zones are 5 through 9A and grows from coast to coast.

Previous

• A Naturalized Catalpa Tree
• The Adaptable Catalpa Tree
• Catalpa Characteristics
• The Catalpa Fruit
• A Catalpa Worm Infestation
• The Catalpa Sphinx Moth
• Fishing with Catalpa Worms

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