catalpa
noun
ca·tal·pa
kə-ˈtal-pə 
-ˈtȯl-
-ˈtȯl-
: any of a genus (Catalpa) of North American and Asian trees of the bignonia family with pale showy flowers in terminal clusters
Examples of catalpa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Watch for it on fruitless mulberries, catalpas, cottonwoods, silver maples, sycamores and others.
—
Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2025
The premature leaf drop brought on by hot, dry weather is most pronounced on large-leafed, fast-growing shade trees such as cottonwoods, silver maples, catalpas, sycamores and mulberries, among others.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025
While making an attractive ornamental tree, northern catalpa can be brittle in wind and under snow load.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025
The bunny tracks running up from the bramble to the
catalpa.
—Rachel Coye, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2023
Among the different varieties going into the aforementioned area are sugar maple, Ohio buckeye, autumn fire hornbeam, musclewood or American hornbeam, northern catalpa, common hackberry, redbud and American hazelnut.
—John Benson, cleveland, 21 Oct. 2021
For example, catalpa trees, viburnum shrubs and strawberry plants are all susceptible to the fungal disease called verticillium wilt.
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2021
Nakamura’s paintings form wreaths of the flora and fauna Nezhukumatathil celebrates in these brief, gemlike essays — catalpa trees.
—Pamela Miller, Star Tribune, 27 Nov. 2020
Western Springs had a firm do an inventory of all the trees in the village and learned in May the tree, a Northern catalpa, was rated a 5 on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is a dead tree.
—Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2020
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Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2025
The premature leaf drop brought on by hot, dry weather is most pronounced on large-leafed, fast-growing shade trees such as cottonwoods, silver maples, catalpas, sycamores and mulberries, among others.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2025
While making an attractive ornamental tree, northern catalpa can be brittle in wind and under snow load.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025
The bunny tracks running up from the bramble to the
catalpa.
—Rachel Coye, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2023
Among the different varieties going into the aforementioned area are sugar maple, Ohio buckeye, autumn fire hornbeam, musclewood or American hornbeam, northern catalpa, common hackberry, redbud and American hazelnut.
—John Benson, cleveland, 21 Oct. 2021
For example, catalpa trees, viburnum shrubs and strawberry plants are all susceptible to the fungal disease called verticillium wilt.
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2021
Nakamura’s paintings form wreaths of the flora and fauna Nezhukumatathil celebrates in these brief, gemlike essays — catalpa trees.
—Pamela Miller, Star Tribune, 27 Nov. 2020
Western Springs had a firm do an inventory of all the trees in the village and learned in May the tree, a Northern catalpa, was rated a 5 on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is a dead tree.
—Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Catalpa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalpa. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catalpa
noun
ca·tal·pa
kə-ˈtal-pə
-ˈtȯl-
-ˈtȯl-
: any of several trees of North America and Asia with broad oval leaves, showy flowers, and long narrow pods
Etymology
Creek katáłpa "catalpa," from iká "head" and táłpa "wing"
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