Catalpa speciosa, also known as Northern Catalpa, Hardy Catalpa, Northern Cigar Tree, Western Catalpa, and Catawba Tree, is a deciduous tree native to the midwestern United States. With heart-shaped leaves up to 1', this fast-growing tree blooms white and yellow flowers in late June. It is tolerant of heat and drought, and its wood is slow to rot in soil, making it a valuable timber tree. The Northern Catalpa also makes for a beautiful ornamental tree, as it grows up to 90 ft tall and wide. Its large trumpet-shaped flowers are accompanied by pod-like fruit up to 15 inches long that stay attached to the tree during winter. Although it has a reputation as a weed tree, its wood is under-appreciated and underused, with unique properties that make it excellent for carving and boat building. Despite some liabilities such as the tree being fragile in strong winds, many enjoy this tree for its beautiful aesthetic and unique characteristics.