Pollinator plant

Southern catalpa

Catalpa bignonioides

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Common names

56 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
+20 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (26)
Dutch
French
Arabic
  • كتلبة بنيونية[4]
Bulgarian
  • Бигнониевидна каталпа[4]
  • Индианско бобово дърво[4]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 南梓[4]
  • 美国木豆树[4]
  • 美国梓树[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • katalpa trubačovitá[4]
Estonian
  • harilik trompetipuu[4]
Finnish
  • alabamantrumpettipuu[4]
German
Hebrew
  • קטלפה ביגנונית[4]
Hungarian
  • szívlevelű szivarfa[4]
Italian
Japanese
  • アメリカキササゲ[4]
Korean
  • 꽃개오동[4]
Latvian
  • Ceriņlapu katalpa[4]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji katalpa[4]
Polish
  • Katalpa bignoniowa[4]
  • Surmia bignoniowa[4]
  • Surmia zwyczajna[4]
Romanian
  • Arbore Trompetă[4]
Russian
  • Катальпа бигнониевидная[4]
Slovak
  • katalpa bignóniovitá[4]
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Катальпа бігнонієподібна[4]
Sources & name notes (5)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalpa bignonioides — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Southern Catalpa — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Bean Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Cigar Tree — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Catalpa bignonioides.
[2] Catalpa bignonioides — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • southern catalpa — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Gewöhnlicher Trompetenbaum — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • American catalpa — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • bean tree — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • catalpa — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • catawba — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • catawbaw tree — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Caterpillar tree — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • cigar tree — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • common catalpa — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • eastern catalpa — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • fish bait tree — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • fisherman’s tree — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian bean — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian bean tree — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian Bean-tree — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian cigar tree — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • katalpa — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • lady cigar — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • later blooming catalpa — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • petalfra — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Shawnee wood — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • smoking bean — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • worm tree — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa común — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Arbre aux haricots — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa boule — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa commun — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Albero dei sigari — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Trompetboom — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Catalpa bignonioides ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Southern catalpa (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 156536; taxon RRY6.
  • Gewöhnlicher Trompetenbaum (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 156535; taxon RRY6.
[4] Catalpa bignonioides — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • southern catalpa — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Gewöhnlicher Trompetenbaum — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • American catalpa — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • bean tree — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • catalpa — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • catawba — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • catawbaw tree — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Caterpillar tree — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • cigar tree — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • common catalpa — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • eastern catalpa — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • fish bait tree — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • fisherman’s tree — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian bean — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian bean tree — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian Bean-tree — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Indian cigar tree — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • katalpa — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • lady cigar — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • later blooming catalpa — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • petalfra — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Shawnee wood — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • smoking bean — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • worm tree — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa común — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Arbre aux haricots — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa boule — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa commun — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Albero dei sigari — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Trompetboom — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • katalpa trubačovitá — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Катальпа бигнониевидная — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Бигнониевидна каталпа — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Индианско бобово дърво — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Catalpa — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • アメリカキササゲ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • harilik trompetipuu — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • 南梓 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • 南梓 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Paprastoji katalpa — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • katalpa — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Arbore Trompetă — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Surmia bignoniowa — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Катальпа бігнонієподібна — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • 꽃개오동 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • كتلبة بنيونية — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • קטלפה ביגנונית — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Ceriņlapu katalpa — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • 美国梓树 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • 美国木豆树 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • szívlevelű szivarfa — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Surmia zwyczajna — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Katalpa bignoniowa — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • alabamantrumpettipuu — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • katalpa bignóniovitá — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
  • Katalpa — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 50859; Catalpa bignonioides.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • Indian bean tree — Page 3, column 1, row top 397 pt; common-name cell after Catalpa bignonioides.; Catalpa bignonioides.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalpa bignonioides is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Bignoniaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
9.14–18.29 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
6.1–12.19 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Broad; Irregular; Oval; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Catalpa bignonioides in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
E. Texas to S. Georgia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is a tree. It flowers from June to July.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Catalpa bignonioides — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5138300; ID RRY6; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5138300; ID RRY6; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Catalpa bignonioides — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 3, column 1, entry Catalpa bignonioides (top 397 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Catalpa bignonioides — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1189409; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 457668, 457669, 457671, 457672, 457674, 457676

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.