Catalpa × erubescens (or Catalpa erubescens), the hybrid catalpa, is a hybrid plant species of Catalpa in the family Bignoniaceae.
It is a medium-sized tree, reaching at most 20 m. Its parents are southern catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides, from the United States, and yellow catalpa, C. ovata, from China.
There is one accepted[2] form, Catalpa × erubescens Carrière f. purpurea (Wawra & Abel) Paclt, which has purple, some say chocolate-colored, young leaves which turn green as they mature.
[3] This form is marketed under a variety of names, such as hybrid catalpa 'Purpurea', red-leaved Indian bean tree, and purple hybrid catalpa, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
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