Northern Catalpa

Showy Summer Flowers
Bold Shade Canopy
Distinctive Seed Pods

Our Guarantee Customer Reviews

#35 Container

$711.00

6 in stock

4-5″ Caliper

$661.00

10 in stock

Size

Clear

Add installation for only _ per item!

Starting at $661.00

The Grasshopper Guarantee

We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
FREE Local Delivery

Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
518-793-9623

Northern Catalpa

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Northern Catalpa

Northern Catalpa is a large deciduous shade tree known for bold heart-shaped leaves, fragrant white summer flowers, and long bean-like seed pods. Its dramatic foliage and open canopy make it a standout choice for spacious lawns, naturalized areas, and large landscape settings.

Why choose Northern Catalpa?

Choose Northern Catalpa for a fast-growing, distinctive shade tree with oversized tropical-looking foliage, showy seasonal bloom, and memorable ornamental pods. It brings strong visual character to open areas where a bold canopy tree is needed. The white flowers are marked with yellow and purple accents, adding pollinator appeal and a bright early-summer display. Its large leaves create meaningful shade, while the long seed pods add texture and winter interest after the foliage drops.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Catalpa speciosa
Common Name: Northern Catalpa
Plant Type: Deciduous tree
Growth Habit: Upright, spreading shade tree with a rounded to irregular canopy

Northern Catalpa Additional Information

Northern Catalpa blooms in late spring to early summer, producing upright clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers with decorative yellow and purple markings. Its very large, heart-shaped leaves create a lush summer canopy and give the tree a bold, almost tropical appearance. After flowering, long narrow seed pods develop and may persist into winter, adding a distinctive silhouette once the tree is dormant.

This tree is best suited to larger landscapes, open lawns, parks, naturalized plantings, and broad roadside settings where its size and character can be appreciated. Northern Catalpa is deciduous, dropping its leaves in fall and revealing a coarse branching structure and hanging pods through the colder months. It can serve as a host plant for catalpa sphinx moth larvae, which contribute to local wildlife value. Prune young trees to encourage a strong central framework, and place it where falling flowers, leaves, and pods can be accommodated naturally.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Northern Catalpa in full sun to partial shade with enough space for its mature height and broad canopy. It adapts to many landscape soils but performs especially well in moist, well-drained soil with good rooting room.

2. Watering: Water deeply after planting and maintain consistent moisture during the establishment period. Once established, Northern Catalpa handles average landscape moisture well, with supplemental watering helpful during extended dry weather.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone to help conserve moisture and protect roots. Keep mulch pulled several inches away from the trunk to support healthy bark.

4. Pruning: Prune young trees during dormancy to develop a strong structure and remove crossing, damaged, or poorly spaced branches. Mature trees usually need only occasional corrective pruning.

Related Resources

FAQs

How large does Northern Catalpa get?
Northern Catalpa commonly grows into a large shade tree, often reaching about 40–60 feet tall with a broad canopy when planted in a suitable open location.
When does Northern Catalpa bloom?
Northern Catalpa typically blooms in late spring to early summer, producing showy clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow and purple markings.
Where should I plant Northern Catalpa?
Plant Northern Catalpa in a spacious lawn, park-like setting, naturalized area, or broad landscape bed where its large leaves, shade, flowers, and seed pods have room to develop.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Tall Growth
Full Sun
Flowering

Mature Height	Large: Up to 30 ft or more
Mature Spread	20+ ft
Growth Rate	Fast
Botanical Name	Catalpa speciosa
Bloom Time	Late Spring, Early Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually
Family	Bignoniaceae
Flower Color	White
Hardiness Zones	4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun
Maintenance	Medium
Size	#35 Container, 4-5″ Caliper

Map of the United States with all states outlined and filled in dark greenli

Growing Zones 4-8 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -30)

Compare Similar Products

Name	Red Sunset Maple	Red Regent Apple	Honeycrisp Apple	Firefall Maple	Hot Wings Tatarian Maple	Spring Snow Crabapple
Rating
Mature Height	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Medium: Up to 30 ft	Large: Up to 30 ft or more
Mature Spread	20+ ft	10-20 ft	10-20 ft	20+ ft	10-20 ft	20+ ft
Growth Rate	Moderate, Slow	Moderate	Moderate	Fast	Fast	Fast, Moderate
Bloom Time	Mid spring, Early Spring	Mid spring	Mid spring	Mid spring, Early Spring	Mid spring, Early Spring	Mid spring
Deer Resistant	Usually	No	No	Usually	Usually	No
Family	Sapindaceae	Rosaceae	Malus	Sapindaceae	Sapindaceae	Rosaceae
Flower Color	Non Flowering	White	White	Non Flowering	Non Flowering	White
Hardiness Zones	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	4, 5, 6, 7	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8	10, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Medium	Medium	Low