Species profile
Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
7,508 on Toronto's streets — 1.09% of the city's catalogued canopy.
🌸 Blooms Jun 5 – Jun 20: large white panicles, purple-throat
🍁 Fall colour Oct 1 – Oct 20: yellow
Toronto history — Northern catalpa — native to the American Midwest. Huge heart-shaped leaves, white-panicle blooms in June, long bean-like pods. Planted more for specimen character than systematic programs.
Catalpa speciosa, commonly known as the northern catalpa, hardy catalpa, western catalpa, cigar tree or catawba, is a species of Catalpa native to the midwestern United States.
Planting profile (from the City of Toronto)
| Native to | Native to North America |
| Mature size | Large, 18m high by 15m wide |
| Growth rate | Medium |
| Sensitivity | Hardy |
| Best site | Lawns and boulevards |
| Of note | Large, heart-shaped leaves |
| Plants under overhead wires | Yes |
Where they cluster
Notable specimens
- 187 cm DBH at 179 YONGE BLVD · view →
- 180 cm DBH at 770 BRIAR HILL AVE · view →
- 175 cm DBH at 35 HEARST CRCL · view →
- 156 cm DBH at 332 JOICEY BLVD · view →
- 146 cm DBH at 12 DENEWOOD CRES · view →
- 146 cm DBH at 45 STAG HILL DR · view →
- 144 cm DBH at 24 SWIFTDALE PL · view →
- 144 cm DBH at 16 THIRTY FIRST ST · view →