I was given a small catapala tree at least 10 years ago. It had seeded itself in a 5 gal bucket. It was about 3' tall when I planted it and is now a whopping 6' tall. It is suppose to get white flowers on it in the spring time. It has never had a single bloom. It is planted in full sun. Is there anything I should be doing to get it to bloom?

I cant find info on if there are strictly male catalpa trees, you should have had flowers at 3 yrs, seeds by 5 yrs. Apparently they are the last trees to leaf out in the Spring, so may require something it isn't getting. The catalpa sphinx moth has a partially symbiotic relationship with this tree and its scat refertilizes the tree even as the moth eats it bare of leaves. If you are in a desert soil? Or bucket where planted, it may grow 3 yrs more after transplanting, or be reacting to desert coolness and dryness?

From what I was able to find about this tree. It has both male & female parts and doesn't need another tree within close proximity. It does leaf out very late in my yard but still not the last plant to do so

I've hardly ever seen a Catalpa in NM. I guess there is a reason why:
http://www.sungardensinc.com/C...
I do see a lot of the desert willows and they can be very nice. I have a tiny 3 ft one that has bloomed for me.

Hello, I have seen them in several different locations in Albuquerque. I live 20 miles East of there. I have also seen a couple out in my area. With-,,in a ,10 mile radius of my house.
PS and Yes they were blooming! Maybe it just doesn't like the spot where I planted it

Agoo, do you know which Catalpa it is, Catalpa speciosa or C. bignonioides? I suspect at 6ft it may still be too small to flower. Do you know why it has only grown 3ft in ten years?

20 miles east of Albuquerque is hills and cedars, snows on the Dancing Sandias, could be your soil ph, and might need the protected areas such as are found in closer to the city.