Hardy Banana vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) - TreeTime.ca

Hardy Banana vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

Musa basjoo

Catalpa speciosa

CUSTOM GROW

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Hardy Banana
Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

The Hardy Banana is a fast-growing evergreen perennial that dies down to the ground each year. A stunning tropical-looking accent for your yard and patio, the Japanese Fiber Banana can be overwintered outdoors in several northern U.S. states and southern Canadian regions. In northern regions, you can bring this plant inside and leave it in your garage. If you enjoy Mexican cuisine, you can use the leaves to make tamales.

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.

Hardy Banana Quick Facts

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 4a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: large cream to yellow
Flowers: white
Fruit: Large inedible
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: japanese banana, japanese fibre banana
Other Names: cigar tree, hardy catalpa, western catalpa