https://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/plant/printableSummary/617

x Chitalpa tashkentensis

‘Pink Dawn’ or ‘Morning Cloud’ Chitalpa

Jordan HenryLA6441 - Plant Ecology - Taylor

March 6, 2019

History and GeneticsFamily Name: Bignoniaceae

x Chitalpa is a nothogeneric name, which is a combination of the two parent names -- Catalpa bignonioides (Southern Catalpa) from Southeast US and Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow) from the Mojave Desert

x Chitalpa tashkentensis ‘Pink Dawn’ (pink flowers) is more common than ‘Morning Cloud’ (larger white white flowers).

Hybridized first in 1960’s in Tashkent (the capital of Uzbekistan - part of the USSR at the time).

Brought to the US in 1977 by the Cary Arboretum of the New York Botanical Garden. Named officially in 1991 by botanists at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens.

https://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/plant/printableSummary/617

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%97_Chitalpa#/media/File:Chitalpa_tashkentensis_%27White_Cloud%27_01.JPG

‘Pink Dawn’

‘Morning Cloud’

Characteristicsx Chitalpa is a woody tree, by definition, and is typically single-trunk.

The canopy is 20-35 ft diameter, but typically under 25 ft. The height is also 20-35 ft.

Its drought tolerance most resembles its parent Chilopsis linearis, which belongs to the Desert Riparian Woodland plant community.

Chitalpa has been used in landscapes in warm climates, below 1500 feet elevation. It can tolerate coastal climates to inland valleys.

The growth pattern has been described as arching vase, but is often seen as “irregular”.

https://cellcode.us/quotes/desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis-desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis.html

http://www.public.asu.edu/~camartin/plants/Plant%20html%20files/chitalpa.html

Chilopsis linearis irregular growth

x Chitalpa tashkentensis wide arching vase

Leaf CharacteristicsThe foliage has a medium texture, between the slender leaves of Chilopsis linearis and the broad leaves of the Catalpa bignonioides.

It can likely withstand long dry hot spells with very little irrigation. The flowers blossom in the summer from June to September.

The leaves are simple and pinnate. They are dull green on the top of the leaf and fuzzy underneath.

The tree is winter-deciduous and is also drought tolerant. However, it appears to perform best with consistent and even moisture.

https://cellcode.us/quotes/desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis-desert-willow-chilopsis-linearis.html

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/catalpa/bignonioides/

Chilopsis linearis leaves

Catalpa bignonioides leaves

Leaf & Flower CharacteristicsThe leaves are lanceolate shaped, but some sources say ovate.

Leaves are typically alternate, yet are sometimes seen whorled or opposite. It’s unclear why this is the case.

The surface is glabrous, or free from hair, very smooth.

The flowers are not aromatic, but are extremely showy. ‘Pink Dawn’ (pink flowers) is more common than ‘Morning Cloud’ (larger white white flowers).

The flowers are monoecious, with bilaterally symmetrical, or zygomorphic. x Chitalpa flowers in the summer.

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/catalpa/bignonioides/x Chitalpa tashkentensis

Other CharacteristicsThere is no fruit because x Chitalpa is a hybrid and sterile. The tree is not edible.

The bark is grayish-white, and is exposed during winter months. The leaves turn rusty in the fall.

It requires full sun on the coast, but can also do well in light partial sun in inland valley regions.

x Chitalpa grows in zones 6-9 and can withstand temperatures down to -15 degrees Fahrenheit

It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to extremely high alkaline soils.

The WUCOLS requirements for both coastal areas and inland valley regions are low.

https://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/plant/printableSummary/617x Chitalpa tashkentensis bark and other habits

Winter Deciduous Fall Rust Color

Additional Photos

Growth Structurehttps://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/plant/printableS

ummary/617

Leaveshttps://theendivechronicles.com/pink-dawn-ch

italpa.html

Fall rust colorhttps://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/plant/printabl

eSummary/617

Flowers before blossominghttps://plantdatabase.kpu.ca/plant/printabl

eSummary/617

Some Irregular Growthhttps://www.vizmaz.com/photos/chitalpa/

Aesthetics and Colorhttps://www.vizmaz.com/photos/chitalpa/

Plant CommunityDesert Riparian Woodland is the primary plant community for Chilopsis, which is within the “Desert Scrub” community on the map below.

x Chitalpa is a hybrid tree used primarily for landscaping, so it’s distribution is within urban / suburban landscapes.

The Chilopsis genes make it heat and drought tolerant, yet it performs better with consistent, even irrigation.

It does well in coastal areas, valleys, and coastal sage scrub.

https://calscape.org/Chilopsis-linearis-(Desert-Willow)

https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/%C3%97-chitalpa-tashkentensis-pink-dawn

Chilopsis linearis distribution

x Chitalpa tashkentensis distributionhttps://airfreshener.club/quotes/geologic-basins-us.html

Landscape and Ethnobotanical Usex Chitalpa is primarily an accent tree because of its distinct flowers, foliage, and bark.

It is often used as an avenue tree because of its aesthetic qualities and its moderate, human-scale size.

https://www.californiabaskets.com/images/pomo/P3010027.JPGMojave Native American Baskets made from Chilopsis linearis

Chilopsis wood and bark was used by Mojave Native Americans for basket making.

Its sap and leaves were used to treat fungal infections like candidiasis and athlete’s foot, and wounds and chronic coughing.

The wood was also used to craft bows and arrows.

It’s ideal for screening, shade, and wildlife gardens.

Bees and butterflies are typical wildlife that are attracted to its foliage.

Citations