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Common Name: Shawnee Wood

General Information

Catalpa speciosa is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 15.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Central N. America - Indiana and Illinois to Tennessee and Arkansas.

Habitat

Borders of streams and fertile, often inundated, bottomlands and woods[, ].

Properties

Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a good moist loamy soil and a sunny position that is not exposed[, ]. Tolerates heavy clay soils. Very resistant to atmospheric pollution[].
Plants are hardy to about -15°c, probably more in continental climates[], they grow best in areas with hot summers[]. Protect plants from late frosts when they are young[].
A fast-growing tree in the wild, where it commences to flower when about 15 years old[]. Flowering is cyclic, with large crops of seed being produced every 2 - 3 years[]. The wood is weak which often results in branches breaking off in strong winds[].
When damaged by herbivores, the leaves produce extrafloral nectar that attracts insects which deter the leaf-eating herbivores[].
There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value[]. Trees transplant easily[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Wood - soft, not strong, light, coarse-grained, very durable in the soil[, , , ]. It weighs 26lb per cubic foot[]. It is largely used for fence posts and rails, telegraph poles etc, it is also occasionally used for making furniture, the interior finish of buildings etc. A very valuable timber tree in N. America[, , , , ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown outdoors, or in a cold frame, as soon as it is ripe[]. Stratify stored seed for 3 weeks at 1°c and sow in spring[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Softwood cuttings, 10cm long, in a frame. They should be taken in late spring to early summer before the leaves are fully developed[].
Root cuttings in winter[].