I knew there had to be an interesting story behind this tree, and there was.
It's a catalpa tree, and native to North America. According to my online research, the real name for this tree should have been "catawba", but the botanist who first described it made a transcription error, and it came out "catalpa". The tree is now known by both names, and they relate directly to the name of the Catawba Indians.
This tree is also sometimes called the Indian Bean Tree, the Cigar Tree, the Monkey Cigar Tree, and the Fish Bait Tree. This last name comes from the fact that catalpa caterpillars make excellent fish bait. So much so, in fact, that some fisherman plant these trees in order to have a ready supply of bait on hand.
How many of you have heard of this tree before and knew it by sight?
I have never heard of this tree before. I am wondering if the "beans" can be comsumed by humans??
ReplyDeleteActually, no - they are not. Sometimes the jury is mixed on whether or not one can eat wild plants, but all the sources I checked for the catalpa tree beans agreed. They are only good food for the catalpa worms. Thanks for your question, Jane. I had fun looking up the answer!
ReplyDeleteI live in Upper Michigan and have seen only 3 of these trees in my area. I was told this is a ornamental tree only. Nice to finally have a name for the tree,
ReplyDeletekristi
Kristi,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment. I am glad to hear from you! I have spent some time in Upper Michigan, but nearly enough for such a beautiful place! I'm glad you found this post to be informative. :)
Here in Houston, Texas I have seen 2 these Trees and was Curious, tô find out the Name of this Fascinating, Tree with Beautiful Big Leaves. Thanks for the Info.
ReplyDeleteI live in Houston, Texas and Have seen 2 these Trees só far...
ReplyDeleteI Love the way the Leaves looks só Huge and very interesting the SeedPod. This Year I saw this Tree Blooming a Beautiful Trumpet, shape Flowers and ir was very Fragrant, as well but, with very Short Life:/
Thanks for the Info about this Tree because I Love Plants and always Mesmerized by the Beauty of the Cat awba Tree.
Rita Cistone, you are absolutely right! They have a beautiful flower, just like you described. I will see if I have a picture of the blossoms I can post. Thank you so much for your comment. It was good to hear from you. I have been to Houston once and enjoyed my visit a lot. :)
DeleteAll over down Jersey shore area very aggressive tree spreads quickly shifted neighbors cement patio
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ReplyDeleteI'm from Baltimore md and I seen this tree for the first time yesterday at my sister in law cook out and I just had to look it up. Thanks for the info !
ReplyDeleteChip, I am so glad you found what you were looking for. Thanks for stopping by the blog and for your comments! :)
DeleteI am actually at the Sacramento river, sitting right next to one of these trees. This site really helped, because i have never seen one before, and was also wondering if you could eat the beans, because there are tons of wild black berries at its base. Thanks for the info!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Anonymous! I love how you described exactly where you were sitting. NO, these seed pods are not edible, even though they look like they should be. I wish I had some of those blackberries you mentioned though! Thanks for stopping by the site. :)
DeleteThank you for this info. I live in Maryland and these are everywhere near the bays that lead to the Chesapeake. Now it makes sense that the fishermen wanted them.
ReplyDeleteKari, I'm so glad the information was useful. I've always wanted to visit the Chesapeake Bay region - it sounds so beautiful! Thank you for posting here. :)
DeleteThese trees are really pretty when they are in bloom. They bloom a little later than other trees, but are covered with small white and pleasantly fragrant blossoms. I heard the Native Americans used the "beans" to weave baskets? I would like to see this.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I have seen the blossoms and tried to photograph them. They are lovely! I had not heard about the weaving. I would like to learn more about that too!
DeleteHere in Erie, PA I spotted one of these trees and today finally decided to find out if the "tree with long beans" is edible :). Well at least now I have a name for this inedible tree. I first saw it when I discovered a chestnut tree across the sidewalk of the catalp tree during my dog walks. I was overjoyed when I discovered a CHESTNUT tree! There were tons and chestnuts going for $5 a lb I picked up all the ones on the ground. I think I bagged 20lbs worth took them home and even starting boiling some, while waiting for them to cook I thought it was odd that there was so many, I thought I'm sure others would know about this public accessible tree and noway would there have been that much nuts for me to pick up. On that hunch and googling poisonous chestnuts turned up "The horse chestnut" which is what they were and not edible :(. So these two trees next to each other that produce such alluring fruit are actually not edible :(
ReplyDeleteWow! Anonymous, I am sure glad you did your research! I am so glad you didn't end up eating those. Thanks for sharing your story!
DeleteWe have four of these trees here in Mariposa California,people stop and want to buy the bark off one of the trees that is almost dead from the drought,they say the do something to the bark and then they smoke it in a pipe,but you have to understand that people in California will smoke almost anything iI guess.
DeleteI see them along the lehigh river in carbon county pa.i am a river guide, now i can tell my rafters that it is a Catalpa tree.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article. Now I know what the tree is in the middle of our backyard. We moved in a year ago and a few weeks ago I realized there were these large thin seed pods growing - and that might be a way to identify what the tree was.
ReplyDeleteCan I grow a catalpa tree from the seeds of the bean?
ReplyDeletewe have one of these trees in our yard,,,,, has pretty white flowers when it blooms. the beans are 21" long!!! very interesting!!!
ReplyDeleteMy family and I discovered this tree when we were visiting Legoland in Winter Haven, FL. While walking through their botanical gardens formerly known as Cypress Gardens I found a bean, brought it home and germinated it. I now have about 30 little inch high plants. I hope to get a few trees out of them. They are beautiful and would make great shade trees. I will be able to look at them and remember the awesome vacation and the wonderful time spent with family.
ReplyDeleteI found two of these about .25 mile apart(live in Washington County NY) and it reminded me of "Jack an the Bean Stalk" I stole one of the beans for planting? Can you plant the beans and grow a tree.
ReplyDeleteI have one that is over 50 ft tall and is in my side yard. It makes a beautiful shade tree and my pet pig loves the leaves and beans that fall off of it in the fall. I am in Southwest Iowa.
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