Catalpa bignonioides Variegata - Indian Bean Tree

The Catalpa bignonioides 'Variegata' is a beautifully variegated form of the ornamental tree known as Catalpa. The usual green colour of its foliage is largely replaced by a border of light green to cream yellow. This lovely variegation is most prominent on the young leaves in spring and becomes greener with age. Smaller than the common Catalpa, it features the same beautiful heart-shaped leaves and produces lilac-white panicle flowers before its long, pendulous pods. It provides a dense and pleasant shade in a garden during summer. It prefers a semi-shaded exposure. Vigorous pruning every spring is spectacular on this variety, allowing for large and highly variegated leaves, at the expense of flowering.

The Catalpa bignonioides, also known as the Indian Bean Tree, is a deciduous tree from the Bignoniaceae family: a cousin to beautiful climbers like Campsis, Bignonia, Podranea, and Tecomaria. Native to the southeastern United States, it was introduced to Europe in 1726. It is a light-demanding species that appreciates moist soils, tolerates limestone, and is highly resistant to urban pollution. It exhibits rapid growth, dense and branching vegetation, and remarkably large leaves. At 10 years old, this tree reaches a height of 8 to 15 m and develops a wide crown of 10 to 15 m. Its bark is grey-brown and slightly channelled, peeling off over time in small patches. Its branches are brittle. Its foliage is deciduous, appearing late in spring and quickly falling in autumn. The leaves are elongated heart-shaped, medium green in spring and summer, turning yellow in autumn. In July, it bears beautiful clusters of white flowers, highly attractive to pollinating insects. These are followed by long pods, 20 to 50 cm in length, green and then brown when ripe. Its shallow root system does not tolerate drought. This Catalpa benefits from severe pruning every 2 or 3 years to maintain a dense habit.

The 'Variegata' cultivar is a smaller tree, slow-growing, reaching a height of 5 to 6 m and a width of 4 to 5 m at 10 years old. When the buds burst, the leaves are copper-purple in colour. They then turn green with a wide border of cream yellow or light green. Flowering occurs in May, at the tips of the branches. It takes the form of panicles filled with bell-shaped flowers with fringed edges. The outer part of the flowers is white-lilac, while the inside is golden yellow. The nectar-bearing flowers are pollinated by insects and produce hanging pods that resemble large beans.

The 'Variegata' Catalpa prefers a semi-shaded location to protect its foliage from the burning sun. Its shallow root system and brittle branches make it unable to withstand strong winds, so it should be planted in a sheltered position in medium to large gardens. Highly decorative and bright, it can be planted as a standalone specimen in a city garden. In a bed of large shrubs, it can be paired with other species with colourful foliage, such as Black Lace Elderberry or Royal Purple Smoke Bush. Some dry shade perennial plants can be planted at its base, as long as they have low water requirements, as its shallow roots absorb surface water.