In the southeastern United States, the trumpet tree (Catalpa bignonioides) is common in both private gardens and public parks. The deciduous tree, which is up to 18 meters high and has a very lush crown, has a high ornamental value due to its large, heart-shaped leaves and magnificent flowers, but its wood is also used primarily for furniture and decorative elements.
When does the trumpet tree bloom?
The trumpet tree (Catalpa bignonioides) shows its magnificent blossoms in the months of June and July. The bell-shaped flowers, up to 15 centimeters long, appear in panicles and exude a light scent that attracts bees and bumblebees.
Bell-shaped flowers give trumpet tree its name
The bell-shaped flowers, up to 15 centimeters long, appear in the months of June and July. They are arranged in panicles and have two yellowish longitudinal stripes and purple spots inside. This makes them very similar to orchid flowers and also gives Catalpa its name because of its shape. In English, the trumpet tree is also called 'Trumpet Tree' or, due to the characteristic shape of the fruits, also 'Indian bean tree'. The flowers exude a light scent that primarily attracts bees and bumblebees.
Ball trumpet tree only blooms a little
In contrast to its larger cousin, the dwarf globe trumpet tree only blooms very rarely and when it does, then only at a very advanced age. So if you don't have a lot of space in the garden but want to grow the trumpet tree primarily because of its flowers, the ball trumpet tree is not a good choice.
Buds form last year
The round flower buds, approximately two to five millimeters in size, are white and slightly scaled. A special feature of the trumpet tree is that it forms the buds for the next flower in the fall of the previous year. For this reason, the crown of the tree in particular should be protected in cold winters and especially during late frosts in spring so that the buds do not freeze back. In addition, pruning is best done immediately after flowering, but before buds form.
Tip
The yellow trumpet tree (Catalpa ovata), which comes from Asia, has distinctive yellow flowers rather than white ones.
