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Giant weed in backyard - thick stalks, large leaves
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fullerbunch
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject: Giant weed in backyard - thick stalks, large leaves |
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This weed has grown quickly to a height of about 15 feet. It has no flowers, thick stalks, and leaves that are larger than a man's head. It is in an area we don't mow and where rain water flows/collects. However it's been really dry here, so the area doesn't stay wet.
We'd love to know what it is. You may check out my photobucket photos here http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa261/fullerbunch/
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zuzu's petals
Silly Old Bat
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~ (Map)
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Fullerbunch, welcome to the Stew. 
Your tree sure looks like Paulownia tomentosa, watch it closely if you decide to keep it,
I know that it's considered an invasive species in my part of the world.
*edit to add -
erm . . . just noticed . . . You're in NC  *hehe* that is my part of the world.
_________________
 ~*~ zuzu ~*~
I put a lot of myself into my garden.
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 10348
Location: Scotland (Map)
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hi there Fullerbunch. 
Zuzu seems to have hit the hammer on the head with her ID. The Paulownia tomentosa is also called the Foxglove 'weed.'
Have a look at this website as it tells you all about your tree.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa
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cajunbelle
Daylily Diva
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 2934
Location: zone 8b Louisiana (Map)
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, I'm impressed, I'd sure keep it. They make lovely flowers.
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Sharon
Phil. 4:13
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TheBip
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 497
Location: Indianapolis, IN (Map)
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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O_O That is a huge weed! *falls over from shock*
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And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
--Anais Nin
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Primsong
Flower of the Shire
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Posts: 1765
Location: Oregon (Map)
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Holy cow - an invasion of those could totally dominate a small yard... now all you need is to add some elephant plants and banana trees and you'll feel very, very small.
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fullerbunch
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject: Questions about Paulowmia |
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Thank you all for your quick and seemingly accurate replies. I did have a couple of questions. This seems to have several "trunks", almost like a plant rather than a tree, but then again, it is very young. Also, this is in a densley wooded area with many tulip poplars which are also tall. (most of them are thirty feet tall) I'm thinking at this point of just leaving it and seeing what happens.
I really liked the Dave's garden link, thanks!
Interestingly, I planted some perennial seeds last summer and what few came up, came up this spring. Among them was a foxglove about 40 feet from this plant. It had beautiful purple flowers and grew to about 6 ft. But it has not at all shot up like this.
Would any of you say that this is hogweed? My father-in-law thought it was, but I don't think it looks a thing like hogweed.
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 10348
Location: Scotland (Map)
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Posts: 4511
Location: North Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:12 am Post subject: |
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Today the mailman brought me the August/September issue of Horticulture magazine and what did I find on page 22 but a picture of your plant. The author of the article had it listed as one of 4 tropical looking plants that she considered have-to-haves in her garden.
She cuts hers down to the ground every spring and only allows one or two shoots to grow. She says you still get the huge leaves but not the flowers or the problem of unwanted seedlings.
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