Catalpa, Northern

Next, let's take a look at the Northern Catalpa, or Catalpa speciosa. This impressive tree can reach heights of up to 98 feet. Its somewhat flaky, brownish-gray bark often twists along the trunk, adding a unique visual element. The Northern Catalpa boasts large, heart-shaped, dark green leaves arranged in a whorled pattern, meaning the leaves grow in a circular arrangement around the stem. Between May and June, you'll see clusters of white flowers adorned with yellow stripes and purple spots. These are followed by narrow pods, up to 14 inches long, which can contain up to 100 winged seeds. These pods ripen to a brown color between September and October. The Northern Catalpa is a fast-growing and fairly long-lived tree. Though it has been planted outside of its native range, resulting in little to no wildlife value in these areas, the tree serves an interesting purpose in the southern regions. It is planted to host the Catalpa Sphinx Moth, whose caterpillars are prized as bait for pan-fishing. This tree's adaptability and distinctive features make it a notable specimen in our forest landscape.