Identifying the "Bean Tree" in the Hudson Valley: It's Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa – The Cigar Tree

The tree with large heart-shaped leaves, white spring flowers, and 10–12 inch slender pods is Catalpa (often called “cigar tree” in the Midwest).

• Flowers: showy, white with yellow/purple markings, late spring.
• Leaves: large, tropical-looking, great shade.
• Pods: persist into winter; seeds are wind-dispersed.

Resources: Wikipedia, Google Images.

Catalpa is fast-growing, tolerant of tough sites, and beloved by pollinators.