Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
Bees by day and moths by night visit the flowers, and it is the host plant for the catalpa sphinx moth, whose caterpillars feed birds.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–8
- Grows 40–60 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
3.0 out of 5 · 2 reviewsThe quick answer
Northern catalpa is a fast-growing native tree for USDA zones 4-8 that reaches 40-60 feet tall and 20-40 feet wide. It grows best in full sun and tolerates wet, dry and alkaline soils. Buy it for huge heart-shaped leaves and fragrant white orchid-like flower clusters in early summer.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Northern Catalpa plant profile
Mature size40–60 ft tall · 20–40 ft wide
Typical (40 ft)Up to 60 ft
Upright tree with a narrow, open, irregularly rounded crown.
USDA hardiness zones4–8
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun is best; it tolerates part shade.
SoilpH 6.0–8.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, well-drained soil and tolerates temporarily wet sites, dry sites and road salt.
Native to the USYellow-green to brown fall color
Flowers & fruit
Upright clusters of fragrant white flowers with purple spots and orange stripes bloom in late spring to early summer. Long bean-like pods ripen in fall and persist through winter.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow-green to brown in fall. Large heart-shaped leaves, 6-10 inches long, turn yellow-green to brown in fall.
Pests & disease
Verticillium wilt, leaf spots and powdery mildew can occur. Catalpa sphinx caterpillars may strip leaves, but trees usually recover; weak wood can break in storms.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove dead or weak branches and build a strong structure, since the wood is weak.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Northern Catalpa
SPRINGLeafs out late with huge heart-shaped leaves.
SUMMERFragrant white flower clusters with purple spots and orange stripes in early summer.
LATE SUMMERLong green bean-like pods hang from the branches.
FALLLeaves turn yellow-green to brown; pods turn brown and hang on through winter.
Questions people ask about Northern Catalpa
When does northern catalpa bloom?
It blooms in late spring to early summer with upright clusters of fragrant white flowers marked with purple spots and orange stripes.
Are catalpa pods messy?
Yes. The 8-20 inch pods ripen in fall, hang on through winter and drop along with spent flowers and large leaves, so avoid planting over patios.
How fast does a northern catalpa grow?
It is a fast-growing tree that reaches 40-60 feet tall and 20-40 feet wide.
What are the worms on my catalpa tree?
They are usually catalpa sphinx caterpillars, a native moth that feeds only on catalpa. Trees normally leaf out again after heavy feeding.
Do I need two catalpa trees?
No. One tree flowers fully on its own, and it is planted for shade and flowers rather than pods.
What does the catalpa look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant, leafless bare-root tree about 2-3 feet tall. Plant it promptly; it leafs out later in spring than most trees.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 2 reviews
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J
I ordered three Northern Catalpa trees (2-3 ft bare root). They arrived when expected and were packaged well. All three look healthy but will have to wait until spring to see how they do.
B
They’ve been planted, but no sign of life has been observed. I am hopeful 💁🏻
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension, https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/catalpa/catalpa-speciosa/.