About
Catalpa x erubescens 'Purpurea' is a broad, deciduous tree that can reach heights of approximately 15 meters. Its young shoots and newly unfurling leaves exhibit a blackish-purple hue, transitioning to a deeper green as they mature. In mid to late summer, the tree produces large, open clusters of white flowers, each measuring up to 5 centimeters across, adorned with orange and purple markings. Following the flowering period, slender pods can develop, growing up to 40 centimeters in length.
About the genus
Catalpa are broad-spreading deciduous trees characterized by their large, attractive leaves and upright clusters of bell-shaped flowers that appear in late summer. After flowering, they produce elongated, slender seed pods that remain on the tree.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Higher than 12 metres
- Spread
- wider than 8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a moist but well-drained, fertile soil in a sunny position. Shelter from strong winds as these may shred the large leaves. Protect from late spring frosts when young
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1, or pruning group 7 when grown as a stooled shrub for foliage effect
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings or grafting
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to verticillium wilt