Catalpa Yamadori question

[HebrewHammer]

So here’s one for you to help me with if you can please.

I work on the railroad in the Chicago area and have been watching this tree grow for a few years trackside. Today I decided to get off and get a good look at it. Part of me says catapla, and another thinks it is an overgrown weed tree. Maybe someone could help me out.

Pics show the close up of the trunk with a leaf plucked leaf and the general size with my work glove on the ground next under it. The looks of the branches with the stripped leaf makes me think weed. Your thoughts?
Thanks!!!!

 

[Lorax7]

Have you ever seen a catalpa bonsai in a bonsai show? Neither have I. There’s a good reason for that. Those gigantic leaves are never going to reduce enough to be proportionate in size for a credible bonsai. Save your effort for another subject worth spending your time on.

 

[Gabler]

I'm not very familiar with catalpa, so I can't say for sure it isn't a look-alike, but it could be one. Hopefully, someone with more expertise can chime in and answer your question.

 

[snowman04]

If you have room for it your yard, go for it. It is a monster to clean up after in the fall!!!

 

[HebrewHammer]

Have you ever seen a catalpa bonsai in a bonsai show? Neither have I. There’s a good reason for that. Those gigantic leaves are never going to reduce enough to be proportionate in size for a credible bonsai. Save your effort for another subject worth spending your time on.

I’m I completely understand the bonsai portion of it. I have a huge yard on a river this tree will be a nice addition. When the railroad does its weed spraying this autumn it’ll end up being killed. When they sprayed this spring I was able to catch the crew doing the work and asked them if they could avoid this tree and amazingly they agreed. I have until mid October to dig it out. What’s saved it from “agent orange” over the yards was the CTA that runs underneath the area. Now that it’s built up it’s game over for anything up here.

 

[HebrewHammer]

If you have room for it your yard, go for it. It is a monster to clean up after in the fall!!!

A neighbor where I grew up had a MASSIVE one on the front of their property. I swear I did more raking of their leaves than the ones on our land. Lol.

 

[Empty Mountain]

Enormous leaves but the movement of the branches on full sized mature specimens is inspiring. Here's a Northern Catalpa at the University of Toronto.

 

[HebrewHammer]

Enormous leaves but the movement of the branches on full sized mature specimens is inspiring. Here's a Northern Catalpa at the University of Toronto.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

[NateDyk47]

Have you ever seen a catalpa bonsai in a bonsai show? Neither have I. There’s a good reason for that. Those gigantic leaves are never going to reduce enough to be proportionate in size for a credible bonsai. Save your effort for another subject worth spending your time on.

I have a catalpa along the edge of my property I've been unsuccessfully trying to murder for 5 years. Besides apparently being immortal, I see no reason to attempt to make one a bonsai.