Indian-bean-tree - Catalpa bignonioides

A medium-sized tree growing to 15 to18 metres tall. The leaves are large and heart shaped, being 20 to 30 cm long and 15 to 20 cm broad. The bright green leaves appear late and as they are full grown before the flower clusters open, add much to the beauty of the blossoming tree. The flowers are 2.5 to 4 cm across, trumpet shaped, white with yellow spots inside; they grow in panicles of 20 to 40 flowers. The fruit is a long, thin bean like pod 20 to 40 cm long and 8 to10 mm in diameter.

Often planted or escaping.

Flowering July and August.

Deciduous.

Much planted with scattered records from around Britain.

Status not known in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.