Catalpa tree (photo): planting and care

Catalpa is a relatively small ornamental plant. It is distinguished by its wide, spreading branches, which have an interesting spherical shape. Judging by the photos and descriptions, planting and caring for a catalpa tree is quite simple.

What is a catalpa tree?

This ornamental plant is a wonderful addition to the garden or dacha. With its beautifully shaped crown, the catalpa will truly enhance your living space.

In addition, the plant blooms in a whimsical manner, and in addition to a lushly growing tree, the gardener receives an ornamental plant, the crown of which is adorned with graceful buds.

In addition, catalpa is popular for decorating fairly large and extensive areas, including shopping centers or government buildings.

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Many novice gardeners, upon seeing a catalpa for the first time, assume that only professionals can grow such a plant. However, not only is obtaining such a tree not problematic, but the method for growing it is quite simple and not as energy-intensive as initially thought.

Moreover, the plant is not only easy to care for but also thrives in new locations, adapting to new conditions and thriving when planted outdoors. Even if climate conditions change rapidly, the tree quickly adapts and thrives, even in the face of frequent, harsh weather changes.

In addition to areas located near buildings or structures, catalpa is planted in gardens; it is also commonly planted on alleys or in city parks.

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There are two varieties of this plant:

• low-growing trees;
• broadleaf shrubs.

These trees have a wide, rather voluminous crown, as well as large, light-green leaves that give the tree a fresh appearance. The lower portion of the plant has glossy leaves, which are typically heart-shaped or ovoid. They can reach 15 centimeters in width.

How catalpa blooms

The catalpa tree doesn't require much attention to bloom. When in full bloom, the plant is quite attractive. The flowers are white or beige.

They are quite small in size, but they form gorgeous clusters. Sometimes the flowers can be lilac-colored. It all depends on the variety chosen.

The catalpa tree's fruits are small, elongated, narrow pods that contain the plant's seeds. These pods typically remain on the plant until the next warm spell, giving the tree a distinctive appearance in winter.

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For this reason, the tree has another name - macaroni, since in winter, as a rule, the leaves fall, and only these fruit-bearing capsules remain on the trees.

Trees thrive best when grown from seeds produced in the same region. Therefore, when planting, it's important to purchase seedlings that were grown in the same climate and zone where the gardener intends to grow them.

How does catalpa reproduce?

Judging by photos and descriptions, the catalpa tree, when properly planted and cared for, reproduces quite quickly. This occurs primarily through seeds and vegetatively. Quite often, after successfully growing one tree, gardeners consider buying or growing several more.

Having tried planting a catalpa once, many people begin to wonder how to grow a whole garden of these beautiful exotic trees. This can be accomplished if you understand the propagation methods of this species. You can choose the most convenient method—using seeds or cuttings from already grown trees.

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The planting substrate includes the following components:

• river sand;
• a small amount of fertile soil, preferably black soil;
• peat;
• a little humus or organic manure.

How to properly plant catalpa vegetatively

Based on photos and descriptions, vegetative propagation of catalpa trees is the most common and popular method among gardeners. Since using cuttings immediately reduces germination time, gardeners choose this method. However, to ensure a smooth process, proper preparation of the cuttings is essential.

You can do this in the following way:

• In the second half of summer (from about mid-July until the end of August), you need to go around the already growing tree in search of young shoots that reach about 15 cm in length.
• Take a pre-sharpened knife and carefully cut off the selected shoots. Be careful not to damage the tree itself.

• Prepare a box and fill it with fertile soil or purchased soil, then place the cutting there.
• To plant the cuttings, place them in a pre-dug hole. Center the seedlings in the hole and firmly secure them, then cover them with soil. This will help them establish a foothold in the soil, allowing the root system to develop. It's a good idea to add a little water mixed with fertilizer to the soil.
• After a short period of time (about 2-3 days) after the seedlings begin to get used to their new location, it is necessary to add growth stimulants to the soil, as well as stimulants to strengthen the root system of the future tree.

• After this, the box containing the existing seedlings should be placed in a cool, dry place. The temperature should be kept uniform (avoiding any fluctuations).
• At first, it is necessary to completely eliminate the possibility of excess moisture in the soil.
• During the winter, it's important to take proper care of the plants—firming their roots in the soil and protecting them from frost. During this time, the boxes can be moved indoors or to an area where the temperature can be maintained at around 15 degrees Celsius.
• Once the cold weather ends and the warm weather outside becomes stable, you can plant the cuttings outdoors.

How to plant catalpa from seeds

If you've decided to plant a catalpa for the first time or want to plant a tree using seeds, use the following method:

• In the fall, when the pods are filled with ripe seeds, carefully separate a few from the branches and extract the finished planting material from there.
• Store tree seeds in a cool, dry place. Keep in mind that the shelf life should not exceed two years. The best containers for seeds are small canvas bags or similar linen containers. Thick paper can also be used.

• The best time to sow seeds is late February or early March. It all depends on when the cold weather subsides and the air warms up. Before planting, the seeds must be thoroughly soaked in warm water for 10-12 hours.
• Next, take a small wooden box and dig holes evenly spaced apart. Carefully place the seeds in the holes, preferably as close to the center as possible.
• It's important to ensure the plants feel as comfortable as if they were in a greenhouse. To achieve this, it's important to first create a favorable microclimate for the future plants. They will sprout much faster if the soil is properly moistened, supplemented with mineral and organic fertilizers, and then covered with plastic or cellophane film.

• Store the seedlings in a warm, sunny location. Water the soil regularly to encourage germination. If all conditions are met, the first shoots will appear within three weeks to a month.

What are the characteristics of growing a catalpa tree?

According to photos and descriptions, planting and caring for a catalpa tree in the Urals is roughly the same as in other regions of our country. The plant once became particularly widespread in the Urals, after which it was able to adapt well to harsher conditions.

Let's look at the specifics of caring for a catalpa tree:

• Once a week the plant must be thoroughly watered, and at least two buckets of water should be poured under one tree;
• Loosening the soil under the tree is also an integral part of care, and it is necessary to carry out such manipulations in the spring, but dig no deeper than 40 centimeters;
• At the beginning of the growing season, it is necessary to supply the plant with organic fertilizers - about 5-7 buckets of manure per tree will be enough;
• young plants should be carefully covered for the winter period so that severe frosts do not destroy the young shoots;
• If some shoots have dried out or died during the winter cold, they must be cut off in time so that new ones can grow in their place.

Catalpa is an interesting exotic plant that will decorate any area and create a cozy atmosphere.