Small to average-sized tree with a wide, capriciously branched crown. Growing slower and remaining significantly smaller than the species. The crown is low branched which creates a rather short trunk. The lowest branches bend at a mature age, width circa 8 m. The grey brown, shallow fissured bark flakes in plates. The hard wood of the twigs breaks easily. The acuminate and entire, heart-shaped leaf emerges late in spring and is shed relatively early. When unfolding the leaf is purplish, but turns golden yellow soon and colours to yellow green in summer. In autumn it turns more yellow again. The white tubular flowers appear in erect panicles. The capsules are only 1 cm thick and persist into winter. Shallow rooting with fleshy roots. Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea' flowers only after a few years. The white flowers have remarkable yellow stripes in the corolla and they are purple on the inside.