Catalpa speciosa
Northern catalpa
(c) Amelia Tauber, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Bignoniaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Catalpa speciosa (Northern catalpa) is a non-native California tree in the Bignoniaceae family.
Northern catalpa is a naturalized tree found in northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Sacramento Valley, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed places at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this tree produces white flowers with purple and yellow markings in large showy clusters. Growing 15 to 20 meters tall with spreading branches and a broad, rounded canopy, it develops a sturdy, upright form. Its large, heart-shaped leaves are arranged opposite on branches, typically 10 to 20 centimeters long with smooth edges. The fruit is a distinctive long pod approximately 30 centimeters in length, measuring more than 1 centimeter in diameter.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differentiator is fruit diameter > 1 cm vs < 1 cm and larger size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: Indiana to northern Arkansas
Bloom period
Catalpa speciosa blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Chilopsis: Catalpa has massive heart-shaped leaves while Chilopsis has narrow willow-like leaves under half an inch wide.; vs Paulownia: Catalpa's white flowers have yellow and purple markings; Paulownia has solid purple tubular flowers.; vs Erythrina: Catalpa has white flowers and heart-shaped leaves; Erythrina has bright red flowers and compound leaves with three leaflets.; vs Cercis: Catalpa flowers are white with spots in upright clusters; Cercis has pink-purple pea flowers blooming directly on branches.; vs Pyrus: Catalpa has very large single heart-shaped leaves; Pyrus has smaller oval leaves arranged alternately along branches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Catalpa speciosa native to California?
No. Catalpa speciosa is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Catalpa speciosa bloom?
Catalpa speciosa blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Catalpa speciosa belong to?
Catalpa speciosa is in the Bignoniaceae family, genus Catalpa.
What habitat does Catalpa speciosa grow in?
Catalpa speciosa grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.