The cigartree is the sole primary food source for the sphinx moth caterpillar, which is regarded as prized fish bait. This tree with cigar-like pods is native to the southeastern United States and is planted as a shade or decorative tree due to its numerous colorful flowers and coarse leaves. When crushed, its leaves emit an unpleasant odor.
| Common name | Bean Tree, Cigar Tree, Southern Catalpa |
| Botanical name | Catalpa bignonioides |
| Family | Bignoniaceae |
| Species | bignonioides |
| Origin | Southeastern North America |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Plant type | Tree |
| Hardiness zone | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Sunlight | Full Sun |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Soil condition | Clay |
| Soil ph | Acid |
| Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Spacing | 24 – 60 ft. |
| Harvest time | Fall |
| Flowering period | Summer |
| Height | 3- 60 ft. |
| Width | 3- 60 ft. |
| Flower color | Lavender, Purple |
| Leaf color | Green |
| Fruit color | Brown, Copper |
| Fruit type | Capsule |
| Flower benefit | Fragrant |
| Garden style | Rain Garden |
| Uses | Woodland |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Catalpa bignonioides is a species of Catalpa that is native to the southeastern United States in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Common names include southern catalpa, cigartree, and Indian-bean-tree (or Indian bean tree). It is commonly used as a garden and street tree.
Catalpa bignonioides is a deciduous tree growing to 25–40 feet (7.6–12.2 m) tall with an equal or greater spread[1], with a trunk up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) diameter, with brown to gray bark, maturing into hard plates or ridges. The short thick trunk supports long and straggling branches which form a broad and irregular head. The roots are fibrous and branches are brittle, its juices are watery and bitter tasting.
The leaves are large, bright green and heart shaped, being 20–30 cm (8–12 in) long and 15–20 cm (6–8 in) broad. They appear late, and as they are full-grown before the flower clusters open, they add much to the beauty of the blossoming tree. They secrete nectar, a most unusual characteristic for leaves, by means of groups of tiny glands in the axils of the primary veins.
The flowers are 2.5–4 cm across, trumpet shaped, white with yellow spots inside; they grow in panicles of 20–40. In the northern states of the USA, it is a late bloomer, putting forth great panicles of white flowers in June or early in July when the flowers of other trees have mostly faded. These cover the tree so thickly as almost to conceal the full-grown leaves. The general effect of the flower cluster is a pure white, but the individual corolla is spotted with purple and gold, and some of these spots are arranged in lines along a ridge, so as to lead directly to the nectar within. A single flower when fully expanded is 5 cm (2 in) long and 40 mm (1+1⁄2 in) wide. It is two-lipped and the lips are lobed, two lobes above and three below, as is not uncommon with such corollas.
The flower is perfect, possessing both stamens and pistils; nevertheless, the law of elimination is at work and of the five stamens that are expected to be found, three have aborted, ceased to bear anthers and have become filaments simply. Then, too, the flowers refuse to be self-fertilized. Each flower has its own stamens and its own stigma but the lobes of the stigma remain closed until after the anthers have opened and discharged their pollen; after they have withered and become effete then the stigma opens and invites the wandering bee. The entire Pink family behave in this way.
Bean pods
The fruit is a long, thin bean pod 20–40 cm long and 8–10 mm in diameter; it often stays attached to the tree during winter. The capsule contains numerous flat light brown seeds with two papery wings.
It is closely related to the northern catalpa (C. speciosa), and can be distinguished by the flowering panicles, which bear a larger number of smaller flowers, and the slightly slenderer seed capsules.
- Bark: Light brown tinged with red. Branchlets forking regularly by pairs, at first green, shaded with purple and slightly hairy, later gray or yellowish brown, finally reddish brown. Contains tannin.
- Wood: Light brown, sapwood nearly white; light, soft, coarse-grained and durable in contact with the soil.
- Winter buds: No terminal bud, uppermost bud is axillary. Minute, globular, deep in the bark. Outer scales fall when spring growth begins, inner scales enlarge with the growing shoot, become green, hairy and sometimes 50 mm (2 in) long.
- Leaves: Opposite, or in threes, simple, 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long, four to five broad. Broadly ovate, cordate at base, entire, sometimes wavy, acute or acuminate. Feather-veined, midrib and primary veins prominent. Clusters of dark glands, which secrete nectar are found in the axils of the primary veins. They come out of the bud involute, purplish, when full grown are bright green, smooth above, pale green, and downy beneath. When bruised they give a disagreeable odor. They turn dark and fall after the first severe frost. Petioles stout, terete, long.
- Flowers: June, July. Perfect, white, borne in many-flowered thyrsoid panicles, 200–250 mm (8–10 in) long. Pedicels slender, downy.
- Calyx: Globular and pointed in the bud; finally splitting into two, broadly ovate, entire lobes, green or light purple.
- Corolla: Campanulate, tube swollen, slightly oblique, two-lipped, five-lobed, the two lobes above smaller than the three below, imbricate in bud; limb spreading, undulate, when fully expanded is 40 mm (1+1⁄2 in) wide and nearly 50 mm (2 in) long, white, marked on the inner surface with two rows of yellow blotches and in the throat on the lower lobes with purple spots.
- Stamens: Two, rarely four, inserted near the base of the corolla, introrse, slightly exserted; anthers oblong, two-celled, opening longitudinally; filaments flattened, thread-like. Sterile filaments three, inserted near base of corolla, often rudimentary.
- Pistil: Ovary superior, two-celled; style long, thread-like, with a two-lipped stigma. Ovules numerous.
- Fruit: Long slender capsule, nearly cylindrical, two-celled, partition at right angles to the valves. 150–500 mm (6–20 in) long, brown; hangs on the tree all winter, splitting before it falls. Seeds 25 mm (1 in) long, 5 mm (1⁄4 in) wide, silvery gray, winged on each side and ends of wings fringed.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Cigartree performs best in full sun, though it still grows in partial shade. Choose a bright and sunny area for your cigar tree, where it will receive at least 4 hours of direct light per day. If you choose a location with partial shade, expect flowers to be less abundant than a plant grown in full sun.
Temperature
Cigar Tree is a hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures as low as -34℃. Likewise, it can also survive extremely hot and dry conditions. Once established, the cigar tree can tolerate drought and some flooding too.
Watering
A young cigar tree requires regular watering once a week, typically when the soil surface feels dry. Although this plant needs very little water to thrive, the soil must be kept moist for optimum growth, making regular watering essential during the plant’s growing season. Older plants, on the other hand, need less frequent irrigation. Water your cigartree at its base and avoid overhead watering, as this can encourage fungal growth and mildew. Avoid overwatering too.
Soil
Moist and fertile soil is ideal for growing the cigar tree. However, this hardy plant also does well in a wide range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, silty loam, and clay. It’s not picky about soil pH either, as it thrives in both acidic and alkaline soils. Moreover, it can tolerate some waterlogging, as well as extremely hot and dry conditions, especially once established.
Fertilizing
Although the cigar tree is known for being a tough plant, feeding it with fertilizers will promote healthier growth. A slow-release complete fertilizer is a good start, but you can also use other types, depending on the existing nutrient levels in the soil. For instance, a fertilizer high in nitrogen will encourage foliage growth. However, too much nitrogen may inhibit flower bud formation, so you should only use this if your soil is lacking in nitrogen. The best time to feed your cigartree is in late spring. Avoid fertilizing late in the growing season.
Planting Instructions
Growing cigartree from an established seedling is a lot easier than planting from seed. plant nurseries and garden centers often have ready-to-plant seedlings available. Spring is the best time of year to transplant the cigar tree.
When transplanting, prepare a hole that is twice as deep and wide as the seedling’s root ball. Position the plant so that the top of the root ball is at ground level. Then, spread the roots and fill in the hole with well-draining soil. Once planted, stake the young plant to help it grow upright. Water thoroughly.
Pruning
Pruning will help to encourage new growth on your cigar tree, while keeping it to a manageable size. Start pruning your plant in the spring, one year after planting. As it grows, prune it regularly to maintain a healthy form and remove low-growing, weak, and damaged branches. Cut off any deadwood, water sprouts, and suckers using a pair of clean and sharp pruning shears.
Propagation
The wild form of the southern catalpa is relatively easy to sow. The seeds should be harvested from older trees and should be well-ripened. It is dried a little over the winter and sown outdoors or in a seed box in spring. The soil should be sandy, rich in humus and not too rich in nutrients. It is important that it is warm enough, otherwise the seeds will not emerge or will only sprout poorly. The seedlings reach heights of 11.81 to 19.68 inches in the first year.
The varieties are usually propagated through grafting. Either through the winter manual grafting by splice grafting bare-root seedlings of the wild species or as standard grafting on planted tall trunks. Budding is often practiced in summer. All grafting methods have a very high success rate.
Pests and Diseases
The Southern catalpa is somewhat susceptible to Verticillium wilt. The fungus spreads with its mycelium in the ducts and cuts off the water supply to individual branches, whereupon these suddenly wither and die. The disease occurs mainly in unfavorable soils and there is no cure. However, it can sometimes be stopped in young plants by transplanting the trees to another location with sandy, permeable soil. Powdery mildew also occasionally occurs on the leaves. However, it is not life-threatening.
Pests avoid the Southern catalpa as much as possible. Only voles can become a problem because they love to eat the fleshy roots of the plant.
III. Uses and Benefits
Cigartree is a deciduous tree thought to have the showiest flowers of all North American species, making it a very popular garden plant. Its golden, heart-shaped leaves and copious summer flowers have made cigartree a staple in public gardens across the temperate world. This tree is useful as a specimen piece for its beauty, shade, and ease of care. Lilacs, spirea, and dwarf blue spruce are excellent companion options.
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