Korean Maple 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.

The Korean Maple is an ideal accent tree, and is similar in size and shape to the Japanese Maple, but much hardier. The leaves have long, finger-like lobes that turn striking shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn.

It is recommended that pruning be done during the summer after the leaves have fully developed to ensure sap does not "bleed" down the tree.

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