We planted catalpa seeds eight years ago and had about 100 seedlings but our local rabbits took care of almost all of them. What remains are just two with one slightly bigger than the other.
The seeds came from good friends of ours from a tree on their property and unfortunately, both he and his wife passed away.
It seems fitting that the two remaining catalpa trees should be in their honor.
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| Seedling from 2013 |
From that seedling we now have a tree measuring 10 1/2 feet tall and 3 1/2 inches diameter (March 2021).
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| Catalpa, June 2021 |
It has hundreds of flowers this year which may produce their seed pods with thousands of seeds. If so, this would be our first legacy tree that carries on to the next generations.
Which is what a legacy should be.
Catalpa trees are not native to Iowa but at one time the state was encouraging the planting for their use for fence posts. Publication from 1910: The hardy Catalpa in Iowa
My father was able to get a few hundred board feet of its hardy dark wood before he passed away. My brother bought it from the estate but I'm sure I could get a few boards from him, if he still has any left.
For a little more information and a few more pictures
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