The genus Catalpa is composed of 11 species native to North America [2], West Indies [5], and temperate Asia (China to Tibet) [4]. The name catalpa is the Native American (Cherokee) name for this tree.
Catalpa bignonioides* beantree, beau-tree, candle-tree, catawba, catawba-tree, cigartree, common catalpa, Indian bean, Indian cigartree, southern catalpa
Catalpa longissima (Jamaica and Haiti) French oak, Haitian oak, Jamaica oak, mastwood, yokewood
Catalpa speciosa* candle-tree, catawba, cigartree, hardy catalpa, Indian bean, Indian cigartree, northern catalpa, shawnee-wood, western catalpa, western catawba
*commercial species
The following description is for the North American species.
Distribution: Catalpa is native to the central eastern United States, but is naturalized throughout the United States and Canada.
The Tree: Catalpa trees are often planted as street trees and for shade in yards, but most often for their showy flowers. The tree has opposite, simple, entire leaves. The flowers are bisexual and formed in branched clusters. The fruits are large bean-like structures, resembling cigars. Catalpa trees can reach 100 ft (30 m) in height and 3 ft (1 m) in diameter. The bark is thick, with reddish-brown scales.
General Wood Characteristics: The wood is similar for both North American species. The sapwood is narrow and gray, while the heartwood is a grayish brown, tinged with lavvelox. The wood has a faint aromatic odor and no characteristic taste. It is ring porous, straight grained, light and soft. It can be confused with ash.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.38 41 657
12% 0.41 29 465
Ovendry 0.42 NA NA
aReference (59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 0.84 106 5.792 GPa 1.21 106 8.343 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 5.20 103 35.854 MPa 9.40 103 64.813 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 1.45 103 9.998 MPa 2.74 103 18.892 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.32 103 2.206 MPa 0.57 103 3.930 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 7.9 54.471 kJ/m3 9.6 in-lbf/in3 66.192
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 410 lbf 1823.68 N 550 lbf 2446.40 N
Shear| | 0.68 103 4.688 MPa 1.13 103 7.791 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
aReference (59).
Drying and shrinkagea,b
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential 4.9 3.9 1.6
Radial 2.5 2.0 0.8
Volumetric 7.3 5.8 2.4
aCatalpa dries quickly and is easy to
season, provided that
the ends of the logs are coated.
bReferences: 0% MC, (59); 6% and 20%
MC, (90).
Working Properties: Catalpa works very well with hand and machine tools, although it requires care to sand well.
Durability: Very resistant to heartwood decay when the wood is in contact with the soil.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Fence posts and rails, general construction, interior finish, handles, picture frames, cabinetry and fuel wood.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.