This shot up beside the driveway at the new place this year. The leaves are huge, and the stalk is probably 15 feet tall at this point. It's the only one I've seen anywhere on the property. A friend of ours who is a master gardener didn't know what it was. No flowers, just stalk and leaves.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/26855/driveway_plant.jpg)
Anybody know what it is? Does it belong in Georgia? Should it be protected? Destroyed? Eaten?
Thanks,
Dan
At first glance I thought it was Buttonweed, but I've never seen one that tall.
I wonder if that's the Paulownia tree. If so, it's a foreigner.
http://www.paulowniatrees.org/
With that fast growth rate, I'm thinking about "Jack and the Beanstalk". :)
I'd be guessing a Paulownia as well. The big leaves and fast growth would be right. A close up the leaves would help with the ID
While it's a cool enough tree, and actually makes useful lumber, it's considered an invasive species in some areas.
Probably no harm in letting it grow, if the seeds are already in the area you aren't going to eradicate it by cutting that one down.
This page has a photo of a local sawyer cutting a log from an 8 year old tree...
http://www.paulownia.co.nz/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album03&page=1 (http://www.paulownia.co.nz/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album03&page=1)
Ian
I think y'all might have nailed it. After a quick read and a google, it doesn't look like it'll be a problem tree in our area. There are a few smaller ones popping up in the swamp within a few feet of it. I may try to transplant the little ones and see how they do.
Thanks for the input guys!
In some places in the Eastern US at higher elevations it is a real invasive pest.
I would guess that it's invasive pretty much any where in the south. If it were my property they would all come out.
bat_smailey bat_smailey
http://www.gainvasives.org/subject.cfm?sub=2426
I never did cotton to it.