Мinsk Plants First Exotic Catalpa Trees in Victory Square

In Minsk this spring, a landmark event took place in the field of urban greening. For the first time in the history of the Belarusian capital, an exotic catalpa tree was planted here, marking a new stage in the diversity of the city's greenery. This was reported by the General Director of the enterprise "Minskzelenstroy," Alexander Ermolovich.

Gift from the Botanical Garden

The initiative to enrich Minsk’s flora with unusual species became possible thanks to the cooperation between city services and the scientific community. Three catalpa trees were gifted to the city by the Botanical Garden, where these exotic plants are already successfully cultivated. The specialists of "Minskzelenstroy" did not delay and planted the valuable gift in the 80th Anniversary of Victory Square, located in the very center of the city, bounded by Kalvariyskaya, Maksima Tanko, and Timiryazev Streets.

What Catalpa Is and What Makes It Unique

Catalpa is a deciduous tree belonging to the Bignoniaceae family. This plant possesses several unique characteristics that make it a true find for urban landscape design:

• The natural range of catalpa spans North America, China, and the Caribbean Islands
• It features rapid growth, which is especially important for greening urban spaces
• In the climate of the temperate zone, it can reach a height of 5–6 meters by the age of 10–15 years
• It has dense, heart-shaped bright green leaves that form a lush decorative crown
• An astonishing feature: the foliage retains its rich green color even in autumn, without yellowing
• It begins to bloom in the fifth year after planting
• The inflorescences are large—up to 2.5 cm in diameter, visually resembling chestnut or even orchid flowers
• Flowering lasts 25–30 days, starting in the second half of June
• The flowers emit a pleasant aroma similar to that of apple blossoms

New Approaches to Urban Greening

The planting of catalpa is just one example of the comprehensive approach implemented by "Minskzelenstroy" in the city’s improvement efforts. In addition to introducing new exotic species, the enterprise actively applies innovative methods to protect greenery from adverse urban conditions. "All plants react very negatively to anthropogenic impacts, especially salt," explained Alexander Ermolovich. To address this problem, Minsk has begun using special planters for tree planting. This helps protect the root system from the harmful effects of anti-icing agents. The first trial of this planting method was carried out in the Karl Marx Street area and, according to the director of "Minskzelenstroy," proved successful. It is now planned to expand the use of this practice. Moreover, the enterprise’s specialists, in cooperation with Botanical Garden scientists, conduct a thorough selection of tree species most resilient to urban conditions. For example, ash trees are now planted along Minsk’s main thoroughfares. This species was chosen deliberately—it leafs out two weeks later than other species, allowing maintenance crews to complete all necessary work to ensure maximum seedling survival.

Prospects for Greening the Belarusian Capital

The appearance of catalpa on Minsk’s streets is not just an isolated case but part of a long-term strategy to renew the city’s green assets. In recent years, the city authorities have paid special attention to creating a comfortable urban environment where plant diversity plays an important role. Experiments with new tree and shrub species, as well as the introduction of modern planting and care technologies, not only make the city more beautiful but also increase the resilience of greenery to climate change and man-made factors. Experts believe that if the catalpa experiment proves successful, residents of Minsk will in the future be able to see other exotic plants that can adapt to local climatic conditions on their streets. This opens up new prospects for landscape design and the creation of unique green corners in the urban environment. Undoubtedly, such initiatives positively affect not only the city’s aesthetic appearance but also the overall ecological situation by improving air quality and creating a more favorable microclimate in urban conditions.