Catalpa

This appears to be a Catalpa tree, native tree to the eastern and mid areas of the U.S. Catalpa that grows 40-70 feet with a broad crown of large light green leaves. In the spring it bears clusters of large white flowers with purple speckled patterned markings in the flower throats. It is the host for the caterpillars of the catalpa sphinx moth, also known as the Hummingbird Moth, and may do considerable damage when feeding on the leaves, but does little damage to the tree overall and is considered a valuable pollinator of many other plants and flowers. It was often planted nears homesteads in the south for its flowers and to use the caterpillars as fishing bait. There are two catalpas native to the U.S. This is the hardier of the two species.