Tree id needed, please: This tree is one I dug up from our woods several years ago. The leaves used to be about the size of a dinner plate, but they seem to have shrunk lately. Today I...

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

This tree is one I dug up from our woods several years ago. The leaves used to be about the size of a dinner plate, but they seem to have shrunk lately. Today I noticed three light lavender colored flowers up high and got a few pics. It was starting to rain again so these were all I got. Does anyone know the correct name for this tree? I have googled various sites but I can't find a match for this one. Thanks to all who respond.

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BB4A

I'm no expert on Chinese imports, but I think it's a Princess Tree (a.k.a. Empress Tree, Latin name: Paulownia)?

What I can see of the leaves seems similar to what I remember, and the flower shape is similar too, although I've only seen the darker purple variety.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

BB4A wrote:

I'm no expert on Chinese imports, but I think it's a Princess Tree (a.k.a. Empress Tree, Latin name: Paulownia)?

What I can see of the leaves seems similar to what I remember, and the flower shape is similar too, although I've only seen the darker purple variety.

Thank you for taking time to comment. I'm going to google that name now.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

Thank you, BB4A. You nailed it. No wonder I couldn't find it; I was looking under native species.

BB4A

Cool, I can only remember seeing another one. That's behind the Lily House, at Kew Gardens, SW London. Apparently, I have a good memory for trees; I've only been there a couple of times (last in 2006 and don't remember seeing it on that visit) and they have more species per acre there, than anywhere else on the planet)... Or an amazing retentive capacity for mostly useless information? LOL
Googled it, to make sure I didn't make it up: https://mobile.twitter.com/kewgardens/status/597325458632486912

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

I sure hope mine gets some more blooms like the ones on your link. I can't figure out how it got here on my property (long ways from China) At least it isn't Kudzu.
Speaking of retentive memory for useless info, I got 14 out of 14 right on a Brain Candy quiz for sayings related to TV commercials.

Blake2 Loc: East Texas

cameranut wrote:

Thank you, BB4A. You nailed it. No wonder I couldn't find it; I was looking under native species.

We have a couple of dozen of those on our property and they are beautiful when in full bloom but messy when the blooms start to drop.
They are very fast growing, with shallow roots. The wood is soft and has been used as pulp wood.

Blake

Blake2 Loc: East Texas

cameranut wrote:

I sure hope mine gets some more blooms like the ones on your link. I can't figure out how it got here on my property (long ways from China) At least it isn't Kudzu.
Speaking of retentive memory for useless info, I got 14 out of 14 right on a Brain Candy quiz for sayings related to TV commercials.

Speaking of Kudzu, These trees will take over a large area pretty fast so watch for volunteers coming up and keep them manageable.
A nightmare would be a forest of these covered in Kudzu.

BB4A

There's an American association looking into growing them for profit. Apparently, they grow fast, the wood is light, strong, and doesn't rot easily... Wood would (pun fully intended) have been an ideal layer in the plywood used for the De Havilland Mosquito fighter/bomber built in WWII.

Here's the link: http://www.paulowniatrees.org

While these are somewhat rare in the UK, it seems we will probably be seeing a bit more of this tree in the U.S. in the future.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

Blake2 wrote:

Speaking of Kudzu, These trees will take over a large area pretty fast so watch for volunteers coming up and keep them manageable.
A nightmare would be a forest of these covered in Kudzu.

The Kudzu alone would be a nightmare. Thanks for the warning. I'll keep an eye out for volunteer sprouts.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

Blake2 wrote:

We have a couple of dozen of those on our property and they are beautiful when in full bloom but messy when the blooms start to drop.
They are very fast growing, with shallow roots. The wood is soft and has been used as pulp wood.

Blake

Thank you Blake for responding. I have had this tree for 4-5 years and never knew the name for it until today. Now I'm getting lots of info. This site is an amazing source of information. I only have 3 blooms so far. For some reason, everything on the west side of my house only lives a short time (5-6 years) so I may not have this one into old age (mine or the tree)

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Don't know but they're pretty shots, cameranut!

Blake2 Loc: East Texas

cameranut wrote:

Thank you Blake for responding. I have had this tree for 4-5 years and never knew the name for it until today. Now I'm getting lots of info. This site is an amazing source of information. I only have 3 blooms so far. For some reason, everything on the west side of my house only lives a short time (5-6 years) so I may not have this one into old age (mine or the tree)

Here is a picture of a fairly young one in full bloom. When the leaves come out it drops the blooms which leaves a nut like pod that starts the cycle all over again.
This one gets fertilizer from our hay meadow so I'm sure that adds to the amount of blooms and rapid growth.
The leaves get really big and I understand that in the right climate they can used as an umbrella if caught in a sudden rain.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

sailorsmom wrote:

Don't know but they're pretty shots, cameranut!

Thank you Sue. It was starting to rain so I didn't take as much time to focus as I would have.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

Blake2 wrote:

Here is a picture of a fairly young one in full bloom. When the leaves come out it drops the blooms which leaves a nut like pod that starts the cycle all over again.
This one gets fertilizer from our hay meadow so I'm sure that adds to the amount of blooms and rapid growth.
The leaves get really big and I understand that in the right climate they can used as an umbrella if caught in a sudden rain.

We had dinner plate sized leaves to begin with, then they shrunk. It may have something to do with the soil.