Taxon: Catalpa bignonioides Walter

Summary

Genus:

Catalpa

Subgenus:

Catalpa

Family:

Bignoniaceae

Tribe:

Catalpeae

Nomen number:

9581

Place of publication:

Fl. carol. 64. 1788

Verified:

08/15/2017 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

10 (9 active, 2 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Autonym(s)
Catalpa bignonioides Walter f. bignonioides
Catalpa bignonioides Walter var. bignonioides

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Catalpa syringifolia Sims

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Bignonia catalpa L.
Bignonia triloba T. Freeman & Custis
Catalpa bignonioides Walter f. aurea Bureau
Catalpa syringifolia Sims var. syringifolia

Images (2 total. Click on image for more.)

Links

Forestry Images – from www.forestryimages.org

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
Brown, R. G. & M. L. Brown. 1972. Woody plants of Maryland
Chester, E. W. et al. 1993-1997. Atlas of Tennessee vascular plants.
Clark, R. C. 1971. The woody plants of Alabama. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 58:234.
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Deam, C. C. 1940. Flora of Indiana.
Eilers, L. J. & D. M. Roosa. 1994. The vascular plants of Iowa
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Jones, R. L. 2005. Plant life of Kentucky: an illustrated guide to the vascular flora.
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: mentions
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Mitchell, R. S., ed. 1986. A checklist of New York state plants. New York State Mus. Bull. 458
Mohlenbrock, R. H. & D. M. Ladd. 1978. Distribution of Illinois vascular plants
Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
Ohio Flora Committee (E. L. Braun, T. S. Cooperrider, T. R. Fisher, J. J. Furlow). 1967-. The vascular flora of Ohio.
Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
Paclt, J. 1952. Synopsis of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Candollea 13:257-263.
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Rehder, A. 1949. Bibliography of cultivated trees and shrubs.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Smith, E. B. 1978. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas
Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2.
Turner, B. L. et al. 2003. Atlas of the vascular plants of Texas. Sida Botanical Miscellany no. 24
Voss, E. 1972-. Michigan flora. Note: mentions
Weakley, A. S. 2011. Flora of the southern and middle Atlantic states.
Wherry, E. T. et al. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania.
Yatskievych, G. 1999-. Steyermark's Flora of Missouri, revised edition

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	catawba	1	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
English	cigartree	1	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
English	common catalpa	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	Indian-bean	1	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
English	Indian-bean-tree	1	Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
English	smoking-bean	1	Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
English	southern catalpa	1	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
French	catalpa commun	2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
French	catalpa de la Caroline	2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
German	gewöhnlicher Trompetenbaum	2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
Swedish	katalpa	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas	e.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama	s.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas	s.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida	n.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia	s.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana	s.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi	s.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
2	Cultivated					also cult.	Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
4	Naturalized	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Italy			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario	s.e.	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Mohlenbrock, R. H. & D. M. Ladd. 1978. Distribution of Illinois vascular plants
4	Naturalized	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Eilers, L. J. & D. M. Roosa. 1994. The vascular plants of Iowa
4	Naturalized	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas	e.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: mentions
4	Naturalized	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: mentions
4	Naturalized	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota	Cass Co.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: mentions
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Deam, C. C. 1940. Flora of Indiana.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Mitchell, R. S., ed. 1986. A checklist of New York state plants. New York State Mus. Bull. 458
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Ohio Flora Committee (E. L. Braun, T. S. Cooperrider, T. R. Fisher, J. J. Furlow). 1967-. The vascular flora of Ohio.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Wherry, E. T. et al. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Rhode Island		Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont	s.	Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Turner, B. L. et al. 2003. Atlas of the vascular plants of Texas. Sida Botanical Miscellany no. 24
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Smith, E. B. 1978. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Jones, R. L. 2005. Plant life of Kentucky: an illustrated guide to the vascular flora.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Brown, R. G. & M. L. Brown. 1972. Woody plants of Maryland
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Chester, E. W. et al. 1993-1997. Atlas of Tennessee vascular plants.

Native
Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama (s.), Arkansas (s.), Florida (n.), Georgia (s.), Louisiana (s.), Mississippi (s.)]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas (e.)]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Europe

SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Italy

Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Ontario (s.e.)]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont (s.)]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (e.), Nebraska, North Dakota (Cass Co.)]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas]

Reference(s)

Brown, R. G. & M. L. Brown. 1972. Woody plants of Maryland
Chester, E. W. et al. 1993-1997. Atlas of Tennessee vascular plants.
Deam, C. C. 1940. Flora of Indiana.
Eilers, L. J. & D. M. Roosa. 1994. The vascular plants of Iowa
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
Jones, R. L. 2005. Plant life of Kentucky: an illustrated guide to the vascular flora.
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Note: mentions
Mitchell, R. S., ed. 1986. A checklist of New York state plants. New York State Mus. Bull. 458
Mohlenbrock, R. H. & D. M. Ladd. 1978. Distribution of Illinois vascular plants
Ohio Flora Committee (E. L. Braun, T. S. Cooperrider, T. R. Fisher, J. J. Furlow). 1967-. The vascular flora of Ohio.
Olsen, R. T. & J. H. Kirkbride, Jr. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the genus Catalpa (Bignoniaceae). Brittonia [20-24].
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Smith, E. B. 1978. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas
Turner, B. L. et al. 2003. Atlas of the vascular plants of Texas. Sida Botanical Miscellany no. 24
Wherry, E. T. et al. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=9581. Accessed 17 April 2026.