Catalpa ovata Seeds | Yellow Catalpa

Thin, pale brown Yellow Catalpa seeds with a papery wing at each end, on a plain background — Yellow Catalpa (*Catalpa ovata*): Bignoniaceae, native to China and long cultivated in Japan for timber and ornament.

LATIN NAME: Catalpa ovata

COMMON NAME: Yellow Catalpa, Chinese Catalpa

Plant Profile

Yellow Catalpa is a deciduous tree of the trumpet-creeper family, eight to twelve metres tall, with large, heart-shaped leaves that are softly hairy beneath and often lobed. In midsummer it carries upright clusters of pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers marked inside with orange spots and purple blotches, and these are followed by long, slender pods that hang on the tree through winter.

It comes from China, where it grows in woods and around villages, and it has been cultivated in Japan for centuries. In Chinese it is zi shu, and the character zi became a poetic word for hometown, because the tree was planted at the family home.

Science & Biotechnology

The flowers are pollinated by bees, which are guided by the orange and purple markings to the nectar at the base of the bell. The long pods contain numerous seeds with papery wings, and they split in autumn to release them over a wide area, which is why the tree appears along roadsides and riverbanks near plantings.

Its wood is light, soft and resistant to warping, and it was used in China and Japan for furniture, for coffins and for printing blocks, which is one of the reasons the tree was planted near houses. Extracts of the bark and pods have been studied for their iridoid content, and the tree appears in Chinese herbal practice. The wood is also used for the cores of doors and for pattern-making, since it moves little once dry.

Uses & Benefits

The timber is used for furniture, joinery and carving, and historically for the woodblocks of Chinese and Japanese printing. The tree is also planted as an ornamental for its big leaves and its summer flowers, and as a fast-growing shade tree in a large garden.

In Chinese practice the bark and the pods are used in decoctions, but the plant is not a kitchen herb and the seeds should not be eaten. For gardeners the value is ornamental, with the bonus of long pods that make it easy to recognise in winter. In Japan the tree is planted near temples, and its pods are hung as a winter decoration.

Growing from Seed

Sow in spring at 18 to 22 °C in a loamy compost, covering the seed lightly; there is no special pretreatment, and germination is usually quick and even. The seedlings are fast-growing and can reach a metre in their first season.

Plant out in full sun in deep, moist but well-drained soil, and water through the first two summers. Stake the young tree, since the crown is large and the wood is soft. Prune only to remove dead wood or to lift the crown, and allow space for the broad head, which casts a dense shade. In a cold climate, plant it against a warm wall unless the site is sheltered.

Our Take

A Chinese tree with big leaves, yellow summer flowers and a place in the history of printing. Fast, tolerant and handsome, but too large for a small garden.

Tree Seeds