Indian bean tree
Catalpa bignonioides
Also called Southern catalpa and Cigar tree
Garden plant · TreesThose huge leaves shred in wind, so it wants a sheltered corner. It comes into leaf later than almost anything — a bare catalpa in May is not a dead one.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 6 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, sheltered from strong wind
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 13 m tall · 12 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- The south-eastern United States
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.