Chiltalpa
xChitalpa tashkentensis
Family: Bignoniaceae
CHARACTERISTICS
This intergeneric hybrid between desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) and catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) was created in Uzbekistan in 1964 and introduced to the United States by Robert Hebb of the New York Botanic Garden in 1977. Deciduous, large shrub or small tree 20-30’. Naturally grows very upright and tall. Light pink flowers appear in warm weather. Since the Chitalpa tree is a hybrid it is usually sterile and doesn't produce fruit.
LANDSCAPE USE
Landscape tree
GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANAITION OF TERMS USED
SUN full to part sun
WATER moderate
SOIL not picky, but well-drained
HARDINESS hardy to about 0°F
BASIN high zone
CONTAINER does moderately well in containers but will not attain full size
NUTRITION low to moderate
MAINTENANCE very little
Photo of x Chitalpa tashkentensis by Frau Siebenschläfer on iNaturalist
ECOLOGY
Loved by nectar-loving insects and birds for the flowers.
ETHNOBOTANY
Since this is a new hybrid, it doesn’t have a long history with people, but the flowers are probably edible and can be used as tea. It may contain some of the same medicinal properties as desert willow.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
This plant does not occur in nature.
TAXONOMY AND NAME
This plant is in the Bignoniaceae, the trumpet vine family. This is an intergeneric hybrid created by humans (the X in front of the genus denotes this). The generic name is a combination of the two genera used to create this hybrid: Chilopsis and Catalpa. The species was named tashkentensis since it was first hybridized in the city of Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan.
The flowers are usually on upright panicles, and the leaves lusher and wider. Photo by Wendy Cutler, iNaturalist