Catalpa

The genus Catalpa includes about 14 species of deciduous, rarely evergreen trees, characterized by rapid growth (but not too long -life expectancy) and abundant, especially decorative flowering in late spring and early summer. They are characterized by a hipped crown. The leaves are large, simple, whole-edged, opposite or in whorls. The flowers are bell-shaped, white with red or yellow spots, double-lobed, collected in large brushes or panicles; they bloom only on adult plants. The fruit is a long narrow cylindrical box with many flat seeds with bunches of soft seeds. white hairs on both ends. The most common type is Catalpa bignonioides, or lilac-leaved, common (Catalpa bignonioides), a plant with a height of 10 to 20 m, with a characteristic short strong trunk covered with gray or reddish-brown bark. The leaves are heart-shaped, pointed, pubescent. If you rub them, they emit an unpleasant smell. Young blooming leaves have a lilac hue, turn light green in summer, and turn golden-yellow in autumn. Fragrant flowers are large, bell-shaped, white with yellow and purple spots in the throat, collected in erect panicles. Fruits-cylindrical drooping seed pods that remain on the plant all winter. The magnificent catalpa, or western catalpa (C. speciosa), is up to 25 m high, very similar to the bignoniform catalpa, but its flowers are larger, although they are smaller, and the leaves, which are strongly pubescent on the underside, do not emit any smell if rubbed. Less common species: Catalpa Bunge (C. bungei) up to 10 m high with white flowers in purple spots; catalpa Fargessi (C. fargessi) with pink-lilac flowers collected in lush corymbs with spots of various colors; catalpa ovata (C. ovata), with white flowers in pyramidal thin panicles. An interesting hybrid is catalpa blushing (C. x erubescens), obtained from crossing catalpa bignoniform and catalpa ovoid with smaller and more numerous flowers than the first of these two species.

The genus Catalpa includes about 14 species of deciduous, rarely evergreen trees, characterized by rapid growth (but not too long -life expectancy) and abundant, especially decorative flowering in late spring and early summer. They are characterized by a hipped crown. The leaves are large, simple, whole-edged, opposite or in whorls. The flowers are bell-shaped, white with red or yellow spots, double-lobed, collected in large brushes or panicles; they bloom only on adult plants. The fruit is a long narrow cylindrical box with many flat seeds with bunches of soft seeds. white hairs on both ends.

The most common type is Catalpa bignonioides, or lilac-leaved, common (Catalpa bignonioides), a plant with a height of 10 to 20 m, with a characteristic short strong trunk covered with gray or reddish-brown bark. The leaves are heart-shaped, pointed, pubescent. If you rub them, they emit an unpleasant smell. Young blooming leaves have a lilac hue, turn light green in summer, and turn golden-yellow in autumn. Fragrant flowers are large, bell-shaped, white with yellow and purple spots in the throat, collected in erect panicles. Fruits-cylindrical drooping seed pods that remain on the plant all winter.

The magnificent catalpa, or western catalpa (C. speciosa), is up to 25 m high, very similar to the bignoniform catalpa, but its flowers are larger, although they are smaller, and the leaves, which are strongly pubescent on the underside, do not emit any smell if rubbed.

Less common species: Catalpa Bunge (C. bungei) up to 10 m high with white flowers in purple spots; catalpa Fargessi (C. fargessi) with pink-lilac flowers collected in lush corymbs with spots of various colors; catalpa ovata (C. ovata), with white flowers in pyramidal thin panicles. An interesting hybrid is catalpa blushing (C. x erubescens), obtained from crossing catalpa bignoniform and catalpa ovoid with smaller and more numerous flowers than the first of these two species.

Cultivation

During flowering, catalpa is extremely decorative. Plants are often used in parks, gardens and city streets due to their resistance to environmental pollution. Planted in a permanent place in the open ground in the spring. There are no special requirements for the soil, although they prefer fertile and well-drained. They tolerate both high humidity and drought. When planting, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizer, such as rotted manure. Pruning is only necessary to remove dry, damaged, or disorderly branches.

Location

Catalpas require a sunny location. It is important that it is protected from the wind, which damages large leaves.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures. However, frosts can damage young branches with shoots formed in the fall.

Watering

Usually, watering is required only after planting and at an early stage of growth and development of young plants.

Reproduction

Catalpas are easily propagated by seeds and root offspring, in culture by cuttings. Take in July-August semi-woody cuttings about 10 cm long and plant in a mixture of peat and sand. After the roots are formed, the plant is transplanted into pots one at a time and kept in a closed, unheated room. After several transfers to larger vessels for 1-2 years, they are planted on a permanent landing site. Before sowing, to increase germination, the seeds are immersed in warm water for 7-12 hours, then they are sown in a suitable soil. After germination, as soon as the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted one at a time in pots, after which they are treated as seedlings from cuttings. Varieties are propagated by grafting with a sleeping eye, it is produced in the summer.

Diseases

Most often, damage is associated with cold, especially for young shoots that were formed in late autumn, they can freeze and die. Usually, new leaves bloom on the lignified parts of the shoots. Of the fungi, representatives of the genus Verticillium are particularly dangerous, which cause drying out of plants and subsequent death. Affected plants are removed. The appearance of this fungus can be prevented by using well-drained soil. Other common fungi cause leaf spotting. They get rid of them with the help of tsineb and copper-containing preparations. From powdery mildew grape dew (a whitish coating covering the leaves) is eliminated with the help of anti-oidium and sulfur preparations. Among the insects that nest in the buds, Comstock worms (Pseudococcus comstocki) cause deformity of young shoots. Insecticide treatment is carried out before budding.