Catalpa — Chinese
Catalpa ovata
Catalpa — Chinese (Catalpa ovata) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide, and needs low to medium water.
low to medium water20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Rating
- Conditionally Recommended
- Botanical name
- Catalpa ovata
- Variety / cultivar
- Chinese
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- low
- Wind tolerance
- low
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- white, yellow, purple
- Bloom time
- early summer
- Good for
- south wall
Site factors to consider
- Watch: Short Lived
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers. Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen — winter desiccation is a top killer of newly-planted trees. Year 3: taper to 2×/month in summer, then rely on natural precipitation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Catalpa — Chinese good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Catalpa — Chinese is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a tree suited to Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Catalpa — Chinese get?
- It matures to about 20–30 ft tall and 20–30 ft wide.
- How much water does Catalpa — Chinese need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Catalpa — Chinese native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
Find Catalpa — Chinese near you
See also
Related trees
Catalpa — Northern/Western, HEARTLAND®
Catalpa speciosa
Maple — Bigtooth
Acer grandidentatum
Maple — Bigtooth – ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLOW®, HIGHLAND PARK®
Acer saccharum subsp. grandidentatum
Maple — Paperbark
Acer griseum
Alder — Thinleaf/Mountain
Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia
Hornbeam — American hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana