Strawberry Moon Desert Orchid (Chitalpa)

‘Strawberry Moon’ is a pink-flowered chitalpa selected by the U.S. National Arboretum for improved tree form, darker flowers, smaller foliage, and reduced fruit set. Its open branching gives it a useful winter silhouette, while reduced litter suits urban and suburban landscapes. The Arboretum reports hardiness spanning USDA zones 6 through 8 and records a 38.5-foot-tall original tree at 12 years. [U.S. National Arboretum](https://www.usna.usda.gov/assets/images/as_pdf_image/Chitalpa_Strawberry_Moon_fact_sheet.pdf) ## Landscape Use Use this named selection as a flowering specimen or in a grove where its branching form can be appreciated. The Arboretum describes it for parks, commercial landscapes, medians, and residential properties. Its original tree was 38.5 feet tall, while six-year-old propagules averaged 17 feet tall and 9.5 feet in crown spread; these observations show substantial growth and should not be treated as a fixed mature-size promise. Leave ample room for a medium-sized tree. ## Flowers and Foliage Whorled flower clusters carry pink blooms with pale yellow bases and yellow-orange markings. Ovate green leaves are moderately sized, sometimes lobed, and remain into fall. As a triploid selection, it produces less fruit than commonly planted catalpa, reducing associated litter. The catalog identity, *×Chitalpa tashkentensis* ‘Strawberry Moon’, matches the Arboretum’s plant introduction. ## Maintenance Water during establishment and during extended dry periods, especially in hot weather. Keep the root area free of competing weeds while the tree is young, and prune selectively to maintain sound structure and an open canopy. Allow its naturally branching form to develop rather than cutting it into a narrow shape.