Armstrong Maple vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

The Armstrong Maple has a narrow, upright columnar growth habit. This stunning tree has showy leaves that range from yellow, orange to red in the fall. It is an attractive hybrid of the Red Maple and Silver Maple. It prefers acidic soils and will have some tolerance for drought once mature.

Edward Murray named the Armstrong Maple in 1969 in honor of Oliver M. Freeman of the National Arboretum, who made the first controlled cross between the two species in 1933.

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.

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