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

American Mountain Ash vs Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)

Catalpa speciosa

Sorbus americana

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Northern Catalpa (Cigar Tree)
American Mountain Ash

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 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 (Cigar Tree) Quick Facts

American Mountain Ash Quick Facts

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


Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: white
Flowers: white clusters, spring
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: cigar tree, hardy catalpa, western catalpa
Other Names: dogberry