Shade Trees That Have Big Leaves & Pods

Catalpa

• Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) and southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, depending on the species, and are native to North America. Northern catalpa grows to approximately 50 feet while southern catalpa grows to 30 or 40 feet. The leaves are particularly large, reaching 8 to 12 inches long, heart-shaped and bright green. The fruit is set in a pod that reaches 12 or more inches long.

Locust and Honeylocust

• Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 and black locust grows in USDA zones 4 through 8. Both are native to North America and available at nurseries in their native areas. Honeylocust is sometimes called thorny locust due to its large thorn clusters; thorns sometimes reach well over 12 inches long. Nursery stock is typically thornless cultivars. Both species and their cultivars have long, compound leaves with small leaflets. Fruit is in long, flat, brown or reddish pods similar to peas.

Redbud

• The decorative redbud (Cercis spp.) grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 depending on the species. These familiar landscape trees grow to approximately 30 feet, but many shorter cultivars are on the market. In early spring, these trees burst with color ranging from lilac to lavender to pink to white, depending on the cultivar. The leaves are large and heart-shaped and vary in color depending on cultivar. Reddish-brown pods hang from the trees in autumn.

Other Pod-Bearing Trees

• A few other species also have large leaves and fruit pods. The golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is widely planted as a decorative street tree or landscape tree with yellow, panicle flowers and small, oddly shaped fruit pods. As widely used as this tree is, however, it's highly invasive in parts of the country, particularly the South, Southeast and southern Midwest. The Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is an American native that grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. The leaves are compound with small leaflets.