Catalpa 'Aurea'

Turn your garden into a little corner of paradise with the lovely Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'. It bursts with colour and stunning flowers. This little tree offers large, heart shaped, velvety foliage that begins with a bronze hue and matures into a bright buttery yellow. As the weather warms, it develops into a deeper golden-green. Being a deciduous tree, it will lose its leaves in winter.

Creamy-white foxglove-like flowers with purple and yellow spotted throats appear in June and July. They smother the tree in pendulous bundles, putting on a magnificent display. The flowers are followed by slender, long seed pods.

The Golden Indian Bean tree has a slightly spreading habit that grows to an estimated 5m height and 4m spread in 20 years. The tree can be coppiced and grown as a multistem, which will develop even larger leaves.

Plant your Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' in a sunny sheltered spot as it does need protection from strong winds. . It will tolerate most soil types but does not thrive in very wet sites. It will also need some protection against late frost that may cause damage to the young leaves.

This fabulous romantic tree with heart-shaped leaves makes a great ornamental display in a garden. Plant near a front door, around a patio or use it to create a lovely romantic hide-away under a gazebo.