The Catalpa bignonioides is native to the southeast of North America. This tree often grows along streams and river banks. The Catalpa bignonioides is commonly named southern catalpa, Indian bean tree or cigar tree because of the seeds pods.
The Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana’ is umbrella shaped because it is grafted.
“Nana” is Latin for “dwarf”. This is why this tree is commonly referred to as dwarf Indian bean tree or dwarf southern catalpa. It belongs to the trumpet vine family (Bignoniaceae).
The dwarf Indian bean tree reaches a height of about 5 metres (16 feet) instead of the 15 metres (49 feet) of the Catalpa bignonioides. The height depends on the height of the grafting point.
The leaves are green and heart-shaped and can reach up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in width. They emerge late in spring. In autumn the leaves turn partly yellow and black before falling.
The Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana’ is usually pruned every year and does not bloom. The best period for pruning is at the end of November or at the beginning of March, as long as it is not freezing. Cut the branches at about 15 centimetres (6 inches) above the graft. Due to regular pruning and the grafting, this dwarf southern catalpa forms a denser crown than the Catalpa bignonioides and the Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’.
Unfortunately the Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana’ is sometimes falsely called Catalpa bungei. The Catalpa bungei is also a small catalpa but the Catalpa bungei (native to northern China) does bloom.
Cats like to sharpen their nails on the trunk. I wrap chicken wire around the lower part of the trunk to protect it. Otherwise there will not be any bark left.
Attracts bees: no
Characteristic: deciduous
Exposure: sun/part shade
Flower colour: none
Flowering time: none
Foliage colour: green
Fragrant flower: no
Hardiness: -20 ºC (-4 ºF)
Height: 16 feet (5 m)
Soil: normal