Basswood (American Linden) vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

Northern Catalpa is a striking feature tree with showy flowers, and very large leaves. Its orchid-like flowers are white with yellow and purple accents, and they have a pleasant fragrance. They bloom from late spring to early summer and can last up to two weeks, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators. The leaves are very large, ranging from 15-30 cm long, 12-20 cm wide, forming a canopy that makes it a good shade tree.

They can tolerate dry conditions as well as standing water, air pollution, and salt. These factors and its beauty contribute to its growing popularity as both a boulevard and ornamental tree in colder areas.

Northern Catalpa produces long bean-like capsules and are sometimes called the Cigar Tree in reference to this fruit.

Basswood, also known as American Linden, provides shade and fragrant flowers with characteristically attractive leaves and branching.

It typically has a large uniformly round crown with a straight branch free trunk.

Basswood is typically found along streams and lakes or at the bottom of slopes where the ground is moist.

Compare Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) with

Compare Basswood (American Linden) with