Delivery Date to be Scheduled for Spring 2024 in Your Area
The white flowers of the Audubon Native Northern Catalpa surrounded by its big, green heart-shaped leaves and two varieties of native birds that benefit from this native tree
Native Northern Catalpa white flowers surrounded by its large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves
Native Northern Catalpa white flowers surrounded by its large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves from further away, so you can see the tufts of white blooms all over the tree
A map highlighting the locations where the Northern Catalpa can be found natively growing
Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched on a hummingbird feeder
Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched on a bird feeder
The white flowers of the Audubon Native Northern Catalpa surrounded by its big, green heart-shaped leaves and two varieties of native birds that benefit from this native tree
Native Northern Catalpa white flowers surrounded by its large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves
Native Northern Catalpa white flowers surrounded by its large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves from further away, so you can see the tufts of white blooms all over the tree
A map highlighting the locations where the Northern Catalpa can be found natively growing
Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched on a hummingbird feeder
Ruby Throated Hummingbird perched on a bird feeder

FEATURES:

  • May Benefit & Attract: Hummingbirds
  • The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
  • This bird-friendly native trees provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
  • All Audubon® branded trees are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
  • Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
  • Size A and larger - Ships on our trucks because of the size of the tree - does not fit in a box

Growth Facts

  • Hardiness Zone: 4-8
  • Mature Height: 40-60' tall
  • Mature Width: 20-40' wide
  • Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Shade
  • Spacing: 20-40' apart

Audubon® Northern Catalpa

Bower & Branch Trees and Plants

Catalpa speciosa

Regular price
Still Growing
/
Size
Security Icon
We Offer a Guarantee: Your Tree Qualifies for
Our 3 Year Tree Guarantee.
Whisperer Icon
NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS? CALL A PLANT WHISPERER TODAY!
1(866) 873-3888

FEATURES:

  • May Benefit & Attract: Hummingbirds
  • The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
  • This bird-friendly native trees provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
  • All Audubon® branded trees are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
  • Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
  • Size A and larger - Ships on our trucks because of the size of the tree - does not fit in a box

Growth Facts

  • Hardiness Zone: 4-8
  • Mature Height: 40-60' tall
  • Mature Width: 20-40' wide
  • Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Shade
  • Spacing: 20-40' apart

Why plant Audubon® Northern Catalpa?

Bring a tropical vibe to your backyard bird sanctuary with this bold, bodacious, but perfectly hardy, native tree! Northern Catalpa cloaks itself in immense, 10- to 12-inch, heart-shaped leaves, making it look like something you’d see on a Hawaiian vacation, and the flowers—appearing in late spring—add to the effect. The blooms look like white orchids, and they open in big bunches throughout the canopy. Hummingbirds love the sweet nectar they contain, and they will be constant visitors. Pull up a lawn chair, pour yourself a Mai Tai, watch the birds, and enjoy your “tropical” staycation!

At one time, Northern Catalpa probably only grew in a very small region near the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. We don’t know the original boundaries of its native habitat for sure, because once settlers arrived in the Midwest, they began to introduce the tree to new areas. Farmers found the rot-resistant wood to be excellent for fence posts, so they planted the fast-growing Catalpa extensively. Escaping cultivation by reseeding, it has spread itself even further—all over the eastern U.S. It’s a tough tree that grows in challenging conditions; Catalpa has even found its way into vacant lots in the heart of the city.

How to use Audubon® Northern Catalpa in the landscape?

Catalpa is also known as the “Fishbait Tree,” because its leaves are the sole food source for the Catalpa sphinx moth caterpillar, which is considered choice bait for bass, bluegill, and catfish. Birders may be more interested in leaving the fat caterpillars for the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. This roadrunner relative enjoys “Catalpa worms.”

Audubon® Native Plants & Trees

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.

Planting Zones

Hardiness Zone: 4-8

How To Plant Audubon® Northern Catalpa

Northern Catalpa is easy to please. This adaptable native thrives in many situations. It grows in dry soil (once established) as well as those that experience seasonal flooding. It tolerates infertile soil and has been used in healing lands degraded by mining. It even grows in part shade, though flowers will be less profuse there—plant it in full sun if you can. Catalpa does drop a fair amount of debris: twigs, bean-shaped seed pods, and of course those huge leaves in fall, so be sure to keep it away from pools and patios.

How To Water

Northern Catalpa will appreciate regular water during its first few years in the ground but after that, it will be able to tolerant drier conditions.

How To Fertilize

Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.

How To Prune

The hard work is done by our Bower & Branch Growers, but if pruning is needed, it is best to do so in late fall through late winter. They respond well to a hard prune, so don't be afraid to make that cut if it is needed!

How Does Shipping Work?

Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our large trees require expert delivery and care, that means our large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care.

We deliver your trees and plants directly to your driveway or curbside! Ask Bower & Branch about planting services and rates – we'd be happy to assist in installation.

*Big trees, Size XL (A) and bigger, will take approximately 2 to 4 weeks days to be delivered. - Sizes large (AA) and smaller (Treelings) will be shipped directly to your home by a local common carrier in a plant-safe box.

How Does Sizing Work?

The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health.. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)

Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.

All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!

See the size guides below.

How Trees are Shipped
Size 4XL D Trees Size 3XL C Trees Size 2XL B Trees Size XL A Trees Size LARGE AA Trees

Our Guarantees

3-YEAR-TREE GUARANTEE:

Bower & Branch offers a Three-Year Tree Guarantee on all of our trees, sizes X-Large and up. Only the finest and the most experienced growers are awarded the opportunity to grow for Bower & Branch, so we offer the best guarantee available.

If your tree(s) should fail for any reason during the three-year guarantee period, you will receive an online gift card in the amount that you originally spent on the tree.* You can then use this online gift card for any Bower & Branch Purchase.

* Bower & Branch provides online gift cards in the amount of the original purchase price of the tree(s). The amount does not include any additional costs such as delivery, planting, tax, or any other products or services. Online gift cards can be applied towards any Bower & Branch purchase on BowerandBranch.com and have no expiration dates. Bower & Branch does not guarantee tree replacement or availability of any desired product at any time. Cash refunds are not offered. Bower & Branch requires that all original tags and receipts are present when a guarantee request is initiated. The Bower & Branch Three-Year Guarantee only applies to plant material that has been planted in the ground. Container plantings are NOT covered.

At Bower & Branch, we do our best to honor all guarantee fulfillment requests to ensure customer satisfaction. However, we reserve the right to refuse the request if the required guarantee steps were not satisfied. Bower & Branch also reserves the right to deny any guarantee fulfillment request that is made as a result of animal damage, problems with plant hardiness and zone issues, or acts of nature (snow storms, hurricanes, and similar).

 

Reach out to a Plant Whisperer with any questions:

- Email: plantwhisperers@bowerandbranch.com

- Phone: 866-873-3888

- Or via Online Chat


No Thanks
Shield Logo
Your landscape choice qualifies for our 3-Year Guarantee!
Protect your growing investment & plant with ease.

REGISTER YOUR TREE FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE 3-YEAR GUARANTEE & PLANTING SERVICES TODAY!

We stand behind our trees and our services; our goal is your success.
No Thanks