Catalpas

Catalpas are a family of mainly deciduous trees of the United States, the West Indes, and Asia. The two North American species, Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides), and Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) have been widely planted outside their natural ranges as ornamentals for their showy flowers. The Japanese Catalpa (Catalpa ovata) has also been introduced to North America for ornamental purposes.

Catalpas can be recognized by their large heart-shaped leaves and in the autumn by their long bean-like fruits. Catalpas grow to 9-18 meters tall, and because of their small size are rarely used comercially.

The Catalpa was the name of the ship involved in the Catalpa rescue of 1876, in which six Fenian prisoners were rescued from a penal colony in Australia.