Globe Blue Spruce vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) - TreeTime.ca

Globe Blue Spruce vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

Catalpa speciosa

Picea pungens Glauca Globosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)
Globe Blue Spruce

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 Globe Blue Spruce is a uniquely shaped evergreen shrub species, with a rounded and compact form. It has silvery-blue needles that can last all winter, which add to its ornamental value.

The Globe Blue Spruce is a cultivar of the Blue Spruce and is especially popular in urban environments for its eye-catching shape, cold-hardiness and high pollution tolerance.

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) Quick Facts

Globe Blue Spruce Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: silver-blue
Flowers: white
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: cigar tree, hardy catalpa, western catalpa
Other Names: colorado globe spruce