Habitat

• native to Asia
• hardy to zone 6, and warmer parts of zone 5
• Special Note: This species has demonstrated an invasive tendency in Connecticut, meaning it may escape from cultivation and naturalize in minimally managed areas. For more information, .

Habit and Form

• a deciduous tree
• rounded to irregular crown
• dense
• 50' tall and wide
• coarse texture
• fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

• deciduous, simple leaves
• opposite leaf arrangement
• heart-shaped leaves
• 5" to 10" long
• entire leaf margins
• somewhat pubescent
• medium green leaf color

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color

Flowers

• lavender flower color
• blooms in early April
• very showy
• flowers before leaf emerges
• similar to foxglove bloom
• vanilla scented
• 2" long spikes

Fruit

• oval, brown capsule
• 1" to 2" long
• showy
• persistent
• capsules can contain up to 2000 winged seeds

Bark

• brown, thick stems
• pubescent
• lenticels
• olive-brown bark color

Culture

• grows best in full sun
• prefers wet, deep, well-drained soils
• salt tolerant
• drought tolerant
• transplant form B&B
• not wind tolerant
• prune in winter

Landscape Use

• highly-prized lumber
• urban tolerant
• specimen tree
• naturalized area
• open spaces
• for shade

Liabilities

• considered weedy
• fruit and leaves are a litter problem
• thin bark is easily damaged
• mildew, leaf spot, and twig canker

ID Features

• buds are similar to Catalpa
• opposite leaf arrangement
• simple, deciduous leaves
• heart-shaped leaves
• lavender flowers
• winged seeds

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

• none are commonly available