Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)

Photographic Location: Wilson County in Middle Tennessee

Here in Tennessee the wildflowers don't just grow on the ground. We have lots of trees that also provide us with beautiful wildflowers. 

The Catalpa tree is also known as the Catawba tree. Northern Catalpa is the northernmost New World example of its tropical family and is hardier than Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides), which blooms later and has slightly smaller flowers and narrower, thinner-walled capsules. Both are called Cigartree and Indian-bean because of the distinctive fruit.

The Catalpa Sphinx is a common hawk or sphinx moth, but it is the caterpillar stage, that is most often encountered and best known.   The caterpillars, commonly called catalpa worms or "catawba" worms, feed on leaves of catalpa and often completely strip trees of foliage.  While the catalpa worm is well known as a tree pest, it may be as well or better known to some for its attractiveness to fish.   The caterpillars have long been valued for fish bait, and references to their collection by fishermen date back at least to the 1870's when the species was first described.  I had a Catalpa tree in my yard at my first house. I can attest to the effectiveness of the catalpa worm on catching fish!

For more information about this wildflower, Click Here.