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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Turning Scientific Name Catalpa speciosa Trade Name Catalpa Family Name Bignoniaceae Common Names Catalpa, Catawba, Cigar tree, Hardy catalpa, Indian cigar tree, Northern catalpa, Western catalpa, Western catawba Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Beams, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Porch columns, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Stakes, Trimming, Wainscotting Environmental Profile The future survival of this species is at risk Some long-term concern for the species Environmental status not officially assessed Data source is Nature Conservancy Catalpa is widely cultivated, and is well established throughout the mid-western states in the United States and southern Canada. The tree is a popular ornamental for landscaping Distribution Overview The original range is uncertain, now naturalized in much of the eastern U. S. It prefers roadsides, abandoned fields, and old homesites. It's native range was small, along Miss. and Ohio River Valleys, Illinois, Indiana to Arkansas; many disjunct populations. Heartwood Color Brown Black Red Lavender tinge Contrasts sharply with sapwood Brown - grayish Dark brown or purple streaks often present in heartwood Sapwood Color White Pink Green/Grey Straw colored to grayish-white Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Medium The wood exhibits a somewhat racy figure similar to that in Ash on tangential surfaces because of its open pores Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Heartwood has very high natural resistance to decay The outer layer of Catalpa exhibits a very attractive silver/grey coloring upon weathering Odor Has an odor Faint odor Drying Defects Collapse Distortion End-Grain requires coating to prevent checking Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Medium to High Shrinkage Requires special attention Easy Dries at a fairly rapid rate Air-dries rather well Product Sources The timber is limited in quantity since trees are seldom found in pure stands. It commands less than premium price on the market because of inconsistent supply, and can be purchased at the going price for 'random hardwoods' throughout much of North America. Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Poor gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Stable Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding A rigid, unpadded block behind the sandpaper has been recommended to prevent rippled surfaces Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Performs well when used for turned articles because of its high stability Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Staining The beautiful natural color of Catalpa yields an acceptional, light 'fruitwood' finish without staining, although some filling is required to achieve a very smooth surface Strength Properties Weight = medium Catalpa is decsribed as a soft, weak, and brittle and should not be used under conditions where strength or abrasive properties are critical Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.34 0.37 Weight 38 27 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.34 0.37 Weight 608 432 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Arno, J. 1988. Catalpa speciosa - Northern catalpa. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 98-99. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Panshin, A. J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.