Catalpa bungei aka Manchurian Catalpa
Taxonomy ID: 1394
Catalpa bungei (Manchurian catalpa, Beijing catalpa) is a medium-sized deciduous tree in the family Bignoniaceae, native to central and eastern China. It was described in 1837 by Carl Anton von Meyer from specimens collected by the botanist Alexander Bunge, for whom the species is named. In China it is widely cultivated alongside Catalpa ovata as an important timber tree.
The tree typically reaches 10 metres in height and develops a broadly spreading crown. It is particularly noted for its flowers, which are arranged in corymbs and are densely spotted with pink — characteristic of the Bignoniaceae family. Flowering occurs in July and August, followed by long, bean-like seed capsules that ripen from September to November.
Catalpa bungei is a hardy, adaptable tree tolerating a wide range of soils — sandy, loamy, or clay — and pH levels from slightly acidic to alkaline. It performs best in full sun with moist soil, and is notably resistant to atmospheric pollution, making it well suited to urban landscapes. It thrives in areas with hot summers and can withstand temperatures down to approximately -15°C (USDA hardiness zones 5-9, UK zone 6). Growth rate is moderate.
In Chinese tradition, the wood has been highly valued: hard and of excellent quality, it was used for timber, printing blocks, chess tables, coffins, ancestral tablets, and oars. The "Jinsi" cultivar is especially prized for its golden-yellow, naturally durable timber with good mechanical properties. Medicinally, traditional use includes the stem bark as a lotion applied to cancerous growths, as an anthelmintic (to expel parasites), and as a stomachic; leaves, bark, and seeds have been used as topical dressings for sores and boils. Laboratory research has identified naphthoquinone compounds in the heartwood with antiproliferative and DNA-damaging effects against cancer cells, providing some scientific basis for traditional applications.
The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is widely grown in China as a street and park tree, sometimes in a pollarded "umbrella" form, reflected in common names such as "umbrella tree" and "Beijing catalpa."
Common names
Manchurian CatalpaMore information about Manchurian Catalpa
How difficult is it to grow Manchurian Catalpa?
Catalpa bungei is an easy tree to grow. It tolerates a wide range of soil types and pH levels, adapts to urban pollution, and requires no specialist care once established.
How big does Manchurian Catalpa grow?
Catalpa bungei grows at a moderate rate, reaching approximately 10 metres (about 33 feet) in height. It develops a broad spreading crown and is often maintained in a compact, pollarded "umbrella" form in urban Chinese streetscaping. Long bean-like seed pods are produced in autumn.
How much water does Manchurian Catalpa need?
Catalpa bungei prefers moist soil but is adaptable. It tolerates occasional drought and waterlogged conditions, making it suitable for a range of landscape situations. Regular watering during establishment is beneficial; once established it is relatively self-sufficient.
What kind of soil does Manchurian Catalpa need?
Catalpa bungei tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across a range of pH from mildly acidic to alkaline. It prefers moist, well-structured soil but adapts to difficult conditions including dry spots and compacted urban soils.
What temperature range does Manchurian Catalpa tolerate?
Catalpa bungei is hardy to approximately -15°C and is rated USDA zones 5-9 (UK hardiness zone 6). It thrives in areas with warm to hot summers, which encourage vigorous growth and reliable flowering. Cold winters are tolerated provided the site is not excessively exposed.
What humidity does Manchurian Catalpa need?
No specific humidity requirements are documented for Catalpa bungei. As a temperate deciduous tree it tolerates the humidity ranges typical of its cultivation zones (USDA 5-9), from continental climates with dry summers to more humid temperate regions.
How should I fertilize Manchurian Catalpa?
No specific fertilizer requirements are documented for Catalpa bungei in the available sources. As a moderately vigorous deciduous tree, a balanced slow-release fertilizer applied in spring would support establishment in poor soils, though it generally performs without supplemental feeding once established.
How does seasonal care work for Manchurian Catalpa?
Catalpa bungei is deciduous, losing its leaves in autumn. Flowers appear in July-August, followed by seed pods ripening September-November. In cold climates, young trees may benefit from protection from hard frosts; established trees are winter-hardy to -15°C. No special dormancy care is needed beyond standard deciduous tree maintenance.
Does Manchurian Catalpa have a scent?
No information on floral scent is provided in available sources for Catalpa bungei. Related Catalpa species are generally not noted for fragrance.
What do Manchurian Catalpa flowers look like?
The flowers of Catalpa bungei are arranged in corymbs (flat-topped clusters) and are white with dense pink spotting, typical of the Bignoniaceae family. Flowering occurs in July and August. The showy blooms are one of the tree's principal ornamental features.
What varieties of Manchurian Catalpa exist?
Catalpa bungei is known by regional common names that reflect different ornamental uses: "Beijing catalpa" and "umbrella tree" refer to the compact, heavily pollarded forms commonly used in Chinese urban streetscaping. The cultivar "Jinsi" (golden silk) is valued specifically for its high-quality golden-yellow timber.
How do I grow Manchurian Catalpa outdoors?
Catalpa bungei is exclusively an outdoor tree, hardy in USDA zones 5-9. It performs best in full sun in a sheltered position with moist, well-drained soil, and thrives where summers are warm to hot. It transplants easily and is resistant to honey fungus.
How and when should I prune Manchurian Catalpa?
Catalpa bungei is commonly grown in China as a pollarded tree, cut back hard each year to maintain the characteristic "umbrella" or round-headed form. Pruning is best done during dormancy in late winter. When grown as a standard tree, minimal pruning is needed beyond removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches.
How do I repot Manchurian Catalpa?
Catalpa bungei is a large outdoor deciduous tree and is not suited to container cultivation or repotting in the conventional sense. Young nursery stock transplants readily; established trees should not be moved without extensive root preparation.
Does Manchurian Catalpa need cleaning?
No specific guidance on leaf or bark cleaning is documented for Catalpa bungei. As a deciduous tree it produces significant leaf litter in autumn; routine removal of fallen leaves is the primary maintenance task.
How do I propagate Manchurian Catalpa?
Catalpa bungei is propagated by seeds (sown fresh outdoors, in a cold frame, or after cold stratification at 1°C for 3 weeks), by softwood cuttings taken in late spring to early summer, or by root cuttings taken in winter. All three methods are documented as viable.
Why are my Manchurian Catalpa's leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves on Catalpa bungei in autumn are normal, as the tree is deciduous. Out-of-season yellowing may indicate waterlogging, nutrient deficiency, or verticillium wilt, which the Catalpa genus is susceptible to.
Why are my Manchurian Catalpa's leaves turning brown?
Brown or scorched leaves can result from strong winds, late frost damage, or leaf spot and twig blight diseases, to which Catalpa is susceptible.
Why is my Manchurian Catalpa drooping?
No specific drooping problems are documented for Catalpa bungei. Drooping foliage during hot dry periods is normal and typically recovers with watering. Persistent wilting may indicate root issues or verticillium wilt.
Why is my Manchurian Catalpa dropping leaves?
Catalpa bungei is fully deciduous and drops all leaves in autumn. Early leaf drop during the growing season may indicate stress from drought, waterlogging, or disease (leaf spot, mildew).
Why is my Manchurian Catalpa growing slowly?
Catalpa bungei has a moderate growth rate. Slow growth may indicate insufficient sunlight (it prefers full sun), cool summers (it thrives with hot summers), poor drainage, or lack of moisture. The species does particularly well in warm continental climates.
What pests and diseases affect Manchurian Catalpa?
Catalpa species have no serious insect or disease pests in most of their range. Potential issues include verticillium wilt, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and twig blight. The Catalpa sphinx moth can cause dramatic but non-lethal defoliation. The species is notably resistant to atmospheric pollution and honey fungus.
How is Manchurian Catalpa pollinated?
Catalpa bungei flowers are insect-pollinated. The showy, spotted flowers are typical of bee-pollinated Bignoniaceae species, attracting pollinators to the corymbs during the July-August flowering period.
Is Manchurian Catalpa edible?
Catalpa bungei has no known edible parts. PFAF rates its edibility at 0 out of 5 and lists no edible uses.
Does Manchurian Catalpa have medicinal uses?
Traditional Chinese medicine uses include stem bark preparations applied as a lotion for cancerous growths, with anthelmintic (parasite-expelling) and stomachic (digestive-aiding) properties. Leaves, stem bark, and seeds have been used as topical dressings for sores and boils. Modern research has identified naphthoquinone compounds in the heartwood — including 9-hydroxy-4-oxo-alpha-lapachone — that show antiproliferative activity against cancer cells in laboratory studies, providing partial scientific support for traditional uses.
What other uses does Manchurian Catalpa have?
Catalpa bungei is an economically important timber tree in China. Its wood is hard, durable, and of excellent quality, used for printing blocks, chess tables, coffins, ancestral tablets, and oars. The "Jinsi" cultivar produces golden-yellow timber with good mechanical properties valued for fine woodworking and furniture. The tree is also widely planted as an ornamental and street tree, and is resistant to atmospheric pollution.
Sources
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