​CHINESE BEANTREE  - (Catalpa fargesii) native to China it grows from 49–98 feet tall and up to 3 feet in diameter. It is often confused with oak or ash because of their similar appearance. But what sets them apart is their weight. Chinese Beantree wood is much lighter. The wood is soft, like white pine, and light, weighing only 26 pounds per cubic foot when dry. It also does not easily rot; in earlier years it was used for fence posts and less than successfully as railroad ties. Now day's the wood's uses include furniture, interior trim and cabinetry.
​Often regarded as a weed tree, its wood is under-appreciated and underused. The tree's tendency to grow crooked does not help its reputation as a source of usable lumber.