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Catalpa

About Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa is a deciduous tree with showy white flowers that have bright yellow stamen and purple patters on the inside of the flower. The foliage is noted to be very large and it produces long, showy, green seed pods that have a bean-like capsule. Catalpa is native to the North American south around Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri as well as southern Indiana and Illinois.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Catalpa speciosa

Genus

Catalpa

Family

Bignoniaceae

Order

Lamiales

Also known as

Westlicher Trompetenbaum and 미국개오동

How to care for Catalpa

💦 Water

How often to water your Catalpa

Catalpa needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Catalpa in your home

Catalpa love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Catalpa does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Catalpa in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Catalpa

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Catalpa: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Catalpa after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Catalpa is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Catalpa →

Benefits of Growing Catalpa →

Common Catalpa Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Catalpa →

Outdoor Care Guide for Catalpa →

💦 Water Needs

Catalpa prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Catalpa Water Frequency →

Catalpa Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Catalpa requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Catalpa Light Requirements →

Catalpa Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Catalpa is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Catalpa does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Catalpa →

Best Pots for Catalpa →

When and How to Successfully Repot Catalpa →

What Are Healthy Catalpa Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Catalpa should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Catalpa →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Catalpa grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Catalpa Lifecycle →

Catalpa Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Catalpa →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Catalpa can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Catalpa Temperature Tolerance →

Catalpa Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Catalpa →

When to Plant Catalpa →

How to Plant Catalpa →

Where to Plant Catalpa →

Winter Care for Catalpa →

Best Companion Plants for Catalpa →

Is Catalpa a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Catalpa, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.