American Mountain Ash vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) - TreeTime.ca

American Mountain Ash vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

Sorbus americana

Catalpa speciosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

(new stock expected: fall of 2027)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

American Mountain Ash
Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

American Mountain ash is a beautiful, medium-sized ornamental tree that is ideal for residential lots. Mountain Ash blooms with tiny white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of small red/orange berries in the summer.

American Mountain Ash's berries stay on the tree throughout the winter. This attracts birds and other small wildlife to your landscape as the berries are an important food source during the winter months.

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.

American Mountain Ash Quick Facts

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree) Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 10 m (32 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: white clusters, spring
Flowers: white
Berries: bunches of orange-red
Seeds: seeds contained within the berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: dogberry
Other Names: cigar tree, hardy catalpa, western catalpa