Catalpa ovata comes from China, where its name — ovata, meaning ovate — points to the broad, heart-shaped leaves that give the tree its distinctive presence. Like its North American catalpa cousins, it belongs to the trumpet vine family Bignoniaceae, and the family resemblance is clear in its flowers: pale yellow with faint purple markings, appearing in spring, smaller and quieter than the showier blossoms of southern or northern catalpa but distinctive in their own soft way. The tree matures at 20 to 30 feet, rounded in form, though it has a habit of growing out of shape as it ages.

For a wet, low-lying corner of the garden where few trees perform reliably, Chinese catalpa is a practical solution. It prefers moist, loamy, organically rich soil but tolerates drought and poor ground once established, and grows in full sun to partial shade. It self-seeds readily and has naturalized in parts of the United States — a quality that has begun attracting invasive species concern in some regions, and is worth keeping in mind before planting near natural areas. Although not native, it hosts the same two sphinx moths as its American relatives — the catalpa sphinx and the tersa sphinx — making it a meaningful contributor to bird and bat food webs. Large leaves can become ragged as the season advances, but the tree's structural contribution and ecological value carry it through.