Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' Tree

The bright yellow leaves on Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' are perfect for bringing a real splash of colour into the garden. The large, heart shaped, velvety foliage begins with a bronze shade, developing into a clear yellow and then turning yellow/green in late summer. In older trees, creamy white, foxglove-like flowers with purple and yellow spotted throats appear in bundles in June/July and are followed by long, slender seed pods.

The Golden Indian Bean tree, as it is commonly known, is a wonderful slightly spreading small tree that grows to an estimated 5 x 4 metres in 20 years. For smaller spaces, Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' can be coppiced and grown as a multistem which will develop even bigger leaves. Best planted in a sunny, sheltered position, 'Aurea' will tolerate most soils, except very damp sites.

AKA Golden leaved catalpa, southern catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides Aurea, Golden Indian bean tree

• Common name: Indian Bean tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 5 x 4 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer
• Foliage: Large bronze/yellow leaves in spring turn yellow/green
• Flowers: White flowers in summer
• Soil: Suited to all but very wet soils

Planting Advice for Catalpa bignonioides Aurea Trees

Our pot grown Golden Indian Bean trees can be planted at any time of the year. Start by removing all weeds and grass within a metre of your intended planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help your tree establish more effectively, especially if you have poor soil, we advise sprinkling root grow in the hole.

Take the pot off and gently loosen the roots, then place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost, then fill in the hole and firm around gently, making sure not to bank the soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend using a stake and tie kit and, if your area is prone to rabbits, a rabbit guard too. For further information, visit our help and advice section.

Aftercare of Catalpa bignonioides Aurea Trees

If you’re planting in spring, summer or dry weather, water well and regularly for the first few months. Make sure to keep an eye on young Golden Indian Bean trees and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water your tree a little. We stock a range of irrigation kits, suitable for a variety of planting schemes.

Once planted, it is important to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons.

Pruning Advice for Catalpa bignonioides Aurea Trees

Golden Leaved Indian Bean trees do not require too much regular pruning. Removing any weak or wayward branches will help to tidy up the frame, whilst pruning lower branches will aid in raising the canopy. Although it is not necessary, Indian bean trees take well to hard pruning. If you wish to, you can hard prune in autumn to winter which will encourage fresh, fast growth in spring. This is great if you inherit an established catalpa tree that has not been well looked after.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.