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Mayday Cherry vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)
Prunus padus
Catalpa speciosa
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
SOLD OUT
Mayday Cherry is a small deciduous tree known for its early blooming and fragrant white flowers.
A favourite specimen tree on prairie homesteads, Mayday Cherry produces small black berries that are inedible to people but highly desirable to birds.
Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Mayday Cherry seeds at SeedTime.ca.
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.
Mayday Cherry Quick Facts
Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) Quick Facts
Toxicity: seeds and leaves are toxic if ingested