Tree of the Month: Southern Catalpa

By Chloe Evans

We’ve talked about a few trees this year. We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to identify different trees! From providing the most prized fishing bait to being a gorgeous landscaping ornamental, the southern catalpa can be appreciated for its many wonderful attributes and contributions. 

With a dome-shaped crown and twisting trunk, one could imagine southern catalpa coming out of a fantasy book. This tree can make any space seem magical with its massive heart-shaped leaves and white, trumpeted flowers covered in purple and orange spots. It most often grows to between 25 and 35 feet tall, but it can reach 60 feet or more with a trunk diameter of up to 3 feet. 

Here are some characteristics of southern catalpa:

●      Leaves: Southern catalpa have light green, heart-shaped leaves that are thicker and larger in size, ranging from 5 to 8 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide.

●      Bark: Southern catalpa bark is only one-quarter of an inch thick. It is a reddish-brown to gray color, and on older trees, the bark breaks off into larger, thin pieces.

●      Fruit: Dangling from its branches are slender, bean-like pods that contain dozens of seeds. These pods can be from 6 to 20 inches long.

●      Habitat: This tree occurs naturally in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. They grow quickly. 

Large or small, southern catalpa has made quite a name for itself outside of its good looks. All across the south, people have planted southern catalpa for catalpa worms, a highly prized fish bait. The worms are so reliant on the tree that they were named after it, and southern catalpa has since been nicknamed “fisherman’s tree.”

If you want to learn more about Mississippi’s trees, check out Extension Publication 146, “Know Your Trees.”