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
Seven of the trees – yellow birch, northern catalpa, northern white cedar, white (American) elm, northern pin oak and tulip tree, along with the American beech – are in Porter County.
—
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Southern catalpa and northern catalpa are the main types grown in the U.S.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 12 Feb. 2026
Watch for it on fruitless mulberries, catalpas, cottonwoods, silver maples, sycamores and others.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 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
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Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Southern catalpa and northern catalpa are the main types grown in the U.S.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 12 Feb. 2026
Watch for it on fruitless mulberries, catalpas, cottonwoods, silver maples, sycamores and others.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 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
Cite this Entry
“Catalpa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalpa. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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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