Catalpa bignonioides is a stunning award-winning deciduous tree, ideal to use in a lawn or wide border as a feature tree. The large, pale-green, heart-shaped leaves (up to 25cm across) are complimented by profuse quantities of showy panicles of orchid-type flowers in late summer. The fragrant flowers are mainly white with orange and purple markings on the throat and are followed by slender bean like pods (up to 40cm long) which can persist into winter.
With a spreading shape, Catalpa bignonioides reaches an estimated height and spread of 6 x 5 metres in 20 years, although can be coppiced to grow as a multi stem. Known as an Indian Bean tree, it appreciate a sunny spot and well-drained, moist soil. Young trees need protection from frosts so a sheltered position is best and will prevent the wonderful large leaves being torn. Indian bean trees cope well with pollution so are great in city gardens - there's a row of mature trees, believed to have been planted in 1857, outside the Houses of Parliament.
AKA Common Catalpa, Indian Bean Tree, Eastern Catalpa, Southern Catalpa, Cigartree, Smoking Bean Tree, Catawba
Common name: Indian Bean tree
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Height and spread in 20 years: 6 x 5 metres
Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer
Foliage: Large green leaves through spring and summer that fall in autumn
Flowers: White flowers with orange and purple tints in summer
Soil: Suited to most, but prefers moist yet well-drained soils
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Planting Advice for Catalpa bignonioides Trees
Our pot grown 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 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 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 Trees
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.
Small/medium trees & shrubs
Select semi-mature trees & shrubs
All other mature trees
Mainland UK ex. Scottish Highlands
£8 for any quantity
£35 for 1-4 trees
From £55 for any quantity
Scottish Highlands & the Islands
From £30
Outside Mainland UK
Currently we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK
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.
