Catalpa fargesii f. duciouxii, sometimes commonly called Chinese bean tree, is a medium-sized, deciduous tree with an open rounded crown that is native to central China. It was discovered by westerners around 1900, and was subsequently named after French plant collector Pere Francois Ducloux. This catalpa is most distinguished by its attractive foliage and spectacular flowers. Unlobed, broad-ovate leaves with pointed tips emerge in spring with bronze tinges, but mature to a rich medium green. Rosy-pink flowers with purple-brown spotting bloom in panicles in late spring (May-June). Flowers of this plant are considered to be ornamentally superior to the flowers of most other catalpas. Flowers give way to extremely narrow seedpods (to 1/4” wide) that may grow to as long as 30”. The seedpods mature in fall to dark brown and then split open lengthwise to release the seeds within. Specific epithet honors Pere Paul Guillaume Farges (1844-1912), French missionary, naturalist and plant collector.