Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - June 28, 2012
From: Waco, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Question about the Chitalpa tree
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
A bush w/6" long pencil thin seed pod, leaves 4"x1/2", flower that looks like the flower on the Chitalpa tree. Is there a Chitalpa bush. The one I have I grew from seed from the pod; flat, round w/dark dot in center and furry. It is now about 4' high, but the one I got the seed from is about 12' high w/o a trunk like the Chitalpa tree. The reason I equate it w/the tree is the flower looks exactly like the one on my bush.ANSWER:
The Chitalpa tree (X Chitalpa tashkentensis) is a hybrid from a cross between Catalpa bignonioides (Southern catalpa) and Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow). The two plants are from the same family (Family Bignoniaceae, Trumpet-Creeper Family) but are not only different species, but also from different genera (Catalpa and Chilopsis). Since the Chitalpa tree is a hybrid it is usually sterile and doesn't produce fruit. That's one of the desirable features of it because it doesn't leave a "mess" under it from the falling seed pods. You can read the description from Oregon State University.
Now, I am a bit confused. Do you actually have a Chitalpa tree and did it produce seeds and one of those seeds grew into the bush you are asking about? If this is the case, it is very unusual since Chitalpa trees are sterile and don't produce fruit containing seeds.
Is it possible that your bush is actually a young Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow)? Its maximum height is 12 to 40 feet. Here is a photo of the long, thin seed pods of Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow) and a photo of its trunk and bark from Oregon State University. You can see photos of the seeds from the seed pods on the Vascular Plants of Gila Wilderness site.
Or, is your plant a young Catalpa bignonioides (Southern catalpa) tree? Its maximum height is 25 to 40 feet. You can see many photos of Catalpa bignoniodes, including its seeds and trunk, at the Discover Life site.
Since the Chitalpa tree is a hybrid and not technically a North American native, it doesn't appear in our database, but you can see photos and more information from Delange.org and Cuyamaca.net. Perhaps by comparing photos of the three trees you can determine the identity of your bush.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Tentative identification of Ibervillea lindheimeri
June 22, 2007 - I live close to the Center and found a plant in the park near my house I'd like identified. It was a vine with bright red fruit on it. The fruit was about the size of a cherry tomato but was oblong...
view the full question and answer
Identity of evergreen tree at Barton Springs in Austin TX
October 11, 2015 - I am trying to identify an evergreen tree at Barton Springs in Austin. It is growing on the south lawn overlooking the pool. It has needles arranged in a fan like shape and makes a kind of crown-shape...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
June 18, 2011 - Hello- I would like to know what is this plant? It grows in part to full sun over a large area; gray fuzzy, quilted, pointed leaves. It is now about 6-10" tall plants but there are untrimmed 24-3...
view the full question and answer
Seed pod of Proboscidea louisianica (Deveil's claw) in New Mexico
August 30, 2014 - I found the most amazing seed pods of the devil's claw right here in Albuquerque. I thought it was a wood skeleton of a pterodactyl (flying dinosaur, I believe), but heard it's a devil's claw. Ok...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of thorny shrub in Tennessee
October 03, 2013 - I have a mid to dark green thorny type bush growing on my land in Cosby, Tennessee. I am originaly from NJ and I have never seen it before. The stalk is varigated and the thorns are plentiful and very...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |