• Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
• Large white horse-chestnut like flowers in summer
• Happy in the ground or a large container 

Get an Indian Bean Tree for your garden to add a rare and exotic-looking tree to your outdoor space. The leaves emerge in spring as small red hearts and develop over the spring and summer into a charming buttery yellow.  In mid-summer your Indian Bean Tree flowers with house-chestnut like candelabra-flowers and these then turn into pods that reach over 30cm (12in) in length.

You can plant your 2litre tree directly in the ground with plenty of well-rotted manure incorporated into the soil and it will reach 10m (32ft) in 10-15 years. Alternatively grow Indian Bean Tree in a large container with lots of rich soil which will restrict its height to a more manageable 2-3m (6 ½-10ft)  high.

Useful tip:

Grow Catalpa in full shade or part shade. The yellow leaves, though beautiful, are sensitive to sun and can scorch easily. Grown in dappled shade or in a north-facing area is ideal, and your tree will grow happily here.

You can leave the Indian bean tree to grow into a tree shape which encourages more flowering. Alternatively cut the side stems to the central trunk with encourages super-large leaves to emerge, up to 45cm (18in) across. This keeps the height of the tree in check and a fantastic foliage effect. Be sure to add rich soil to the base of the tree and cutting stems.