Western Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

801 A Street

Native to the midwest, Catalpa was introduced into cultivation in about 1779. It is a hardy tree, with a strong upright habit. The name "speciosa" means beautiful, showy. Flowers are very large and open as early as late April.

The fruit is a long, pendulous capsule, green changing to brown and persisting through the winter. The bark is deeply furrowed, and the wood very durable.

Two other Catalpa trees were nominated for their size and historical significance, and are worth seeing. One is located at Neider Avenue near Kmart, and the other is the southern-most tree in the Government Way island near the courthouse. This tree is the largest of the three with a circumference of 135 inches, a height of 69 feet, and 60 feet wide.

Nominated by: Larry Strobel