Hailing from the mountainous regions of Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' boasts adaptability to a variety of climates. Its origins in dry, well-drained slopes make it well-suited for landscapes with similar conditions, thriving in full sun and tolerating partial shade. This resilience and versatility offer landscape architects a valuable design option for xeriscaping and drought-tolerant landscapes. Architectural Form and Foliage: Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed, small deciduous tree with an ascending and slightly cascading branch structure. It showcases an airy and graceful form, presenting landscape architects with a visually captivating canvas. Its foliage features narrow, bright green leaves that emerge in spring and turn golden yellow in autumn before dropping. This seasonal color change adds another layer of visual interest to the landscape.
Floral Display and Growth Speed:
The star of the show for Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' is its stunning floral display. From late spring to early summer, the tree erupts in a profusion of trumpet-shaped, pale white flowers with purple throats, creating a cloud-like effect that lives up to its cultivar name. These fragrant blooms attract hummingbirds and other pollinators, adding a touch of life and movement to the landscape.
Light and Water Requirements:
Thriving in full sun, Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' reaches its full potential with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can tolerate some shade, providing abundant sunlight enhances its growth, flowering, and overall health. As a drought-tolerant species, once established, it requires minimal watering, making it a low-maintenance choice for water-wise landscapes.
Wildlife Support and Biodiversity:
The fragrant flowers of Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' are a magnet for pollinators, including hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. This makes it a valuable addition to landscapes that support local wildlife and contribute to pollinator conservation efforts. Additionally, the dense foliage provides nesting and cover for birds, further enhancing the biodiversity of the landscape.
Challenges and Considerations:
While generally low-maintenance, landscape architects should consider the mature size and fast-growing nature of Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' during the planning stages. Pruning is recommended to maintain its desired shape and size, especially in smaller landscapes. Regular pruning also encourages denser flowering.
Integration into Landscape Designs:
With its airy form, stunning floral display, and drought tolerance, Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' seamlessly integrates into diverse landscape designs. Landscape architects can use it as a stunning focal point in xeriscape gardens, rock gardens, and mixed borders. Its cascading branches can also be trained to create a beautiful weeping effect, adding a touch of whimsy to the landscape.
Designing with Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud':
For landscape architects and designers, Chitalpa tashkintensis 'Morning Cloud' presents an opportunity to infuse outdoor spaces with delicate floral beauty, wildlife support, and a low-maintenance charm. Whether featured prominently or subtly woven into a diverse plant palette, this adaptable species contributes to the creation of visually dynamic and environmentally conscious landscapes.
FAMILY
Bignoniaceae
MATURE HEIGHT
12 to 15 ft
GROWTH HABIT
Single or multi-trunk with vertical and horizonal growth
WATER REQUIREMENT
Moderate Water
HARDY TO
0°F
NATIVE REGION
A selection which has Chilopsis linearis, native to Southwestern US & northern Mexico, and Catalpa bigniondes, native to southeastern US, roots.
TYPE
Tree
SOIL TYPE
Well-drained. The 'Morning Cloud' chitalpa is highly adaptable to a variety of soil types, including average, sandy, and clay, provided the soil is well-drained. It thrives in drier conditions and is drought-tolerant once established, preferring soil that does not become saturated, especially in winter. While it is not particular about the soil's pH, it tolerates alkaline conditions well. The crucial requirement is sufficient drainage, as soggy or poorly drained soil can lead to problems like root rot. For optimal growth and flowering, a moderately fertile soil is ideal, and amending average or poor soils with compost can help improve its overall performance.
MAINTENACE TIPS
For best results, plant Chitalpa tashkentensis 'Morning Cloud' in the spring or early fall in a full-sun location with well-drained soil. Although it is adaptable to various soil types, including sandy, clay, and alkaline soils, good drainage is critical to prevent winter saturation and root rot. Dig a planting hole that is as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide, loosening any tightly packed roots before backfilling
ELEVATION
15 to 20 ft
MATURE WIDTH
LEAF SHAPE
The 'Morning Cloud' cultivar of Chitalpa tashkentensis features narrow, lanceolate, and deciduous leaves that are a bright to deep green. These simple, elongated leaves are typically about 4 to 7 inches long, and they reflect the tree's hybrid parentage, exhibiting a size and shape that is intermediate between the narrow leaves of the desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) and the larger, broader leaves of the catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides). While the top surface of the foliage is smooth and dull green, the underside is slightly fuzzy or pubescent. Unlike its parent, the catalpa, the leaves on the Chitalpa do not produce an attractive fall color before they drop.
FLOWER COLOR
Soft-pink
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
The flowers of the Chitalpa tashkentensis 'Morning Cloud' are showy, fragrant, and trumpet-shaped, blooming in large clusters called racemes at the ends of the branches. The sterile, orchid-like flowers are predominantly pale white to near white, with a ruffled, flared tip and an interior marked with delicate purple or magenta stripes that serve as nectar guides for pollinators. The impressive bloom season typically lasts from late spring through early fall and attracts hummingbirds, bees, and other insects.
FRUIT/SEED
As a sterile intergeneric hybrid, Chitalpa tashkentensis 'Morning Cloud' does not produce fruit or viable seed. This distinctive characteristic is a desirable trait for many landscapers, as it eliminates the "messy" seed pods that are common on its parent trees, the southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) and the desert willow (Chilopsis linearis). Instead of developing into fruit, the white to pale pink trumpet-shaped flowers simply wither and dry on the tree after the long blooming season, which lasts from late spring to early fall. The absence of seeds means that new plants cannot be propagated from seed and must be grown from cuttings or root sprouts.
SUN EXPOSURE
Full Sun
POLLINATORS
The hybrid tree Chitalpa tashkentensis 'Morning Cloud' attracts several types of pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Its trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom in showy clusters during the summer, are a key feature that draws these pollinators. Resistant to deer and rabbit.
PRUNING TIPS
Pruning of the multi-stemmed Chitalpa tashkentensis 'Morning Cloud' should focus on maintaining its desired tree-like shape and open habit, as its natural inclination is to grow like a large, messy shrub. The best time for major structural pruning is in the late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. During its early years, you should train the tree by carefully removing lower and crossing branches to improve air circulation and establish a strong framework. Once the tree is mature, only minimal, maintenance pruning is needed to remove dead, diseased, broken, or poorly formed branches. Any cuts made should be as clean as possible and avoid damaging the branch collar. Lighter pruning can be done in the growing season to control size or lightly shape the canopy. Over-pruning should be avoided, and no more than 25% of the canopy should be removed within a five-year cycle to prevent stressing the tree.
