Asked on May 24, 2014

what is this plant?

Sarah
by Sarah
Our son bought a property in Georgia and found this plant. We're thinking it might be a Paulownia. The leaves feel like velvet, very soft. Thanks for any help.
  12 answers
  • Pamela Brandvold Pamela Brandvold on May 25, 2014
    Looks like a tobacco plant but the flower and leaf placement tells the rest of the story. First guess. Need another shot of it and its flower.
  • Phillip Williams Phillip Williams on May 25, 2014
    Sarah, I believe that you are correct. I live in Augusta GA and these are fairly common here. The flowers will tell the tale, however they have already come and gone for this year...
  • It does look like Paulownia and it is invasive down here in the South! So I suggest cutting these down to avoid choking out any native plants. Good luck.
  • Carol Kopylec Carol Kopylec on May 25, 2014
    Could also be a Catalpa,(spelling might not be correct) beautiful fragrant flowers followed by long bean pods.
  • April C April C on May 25, 2014
    you were right on first guess and the roots go VERY VERY DEEP. LOL getting it all out.
  • Patricia Brining Patricia Brining on May 25, 2014
    Salt poured into the base or baking soda helps kill bad roots
  • Emma Slone Emma Slone on May 25, 2014
    It will take over, I don,t know the name. It got started here from reseeding on strip mining here in Eastern Ky;
  • Sarah Sarah on May 25, 2014
    Thanks everyone, looks like we better get busy! This is the only one we've seen so hopefully it won't be too hard to get rid of.
  • Suzy Wilks Suzy Wilks on May 25, 2014
    Could the plant be a Confederate Rose?
  • Jay Jay on Oct 18, 2015
    Sorry for the late post, but yes it is a Paulownia tree---IF you leave it planted I would trim it down to 1 trunk and let it grow---has very pretty light purple flowers come spring time (similar to foxglove bloom)---which will then turn into seed pods (thousands of seeds...). I grow them down here in Alabama and have several planted on my property. FYI--keep away from sewer/septic lines by at least 30 feet for the roots do travel and new seedlings will develop off of these roots. So you have pros/cons with this particular tree :) Best of luck.
  • Vickie Thigpen Vickie Thigpen on Oct 18, 2015
    its also known as a cottonwood tree
  • Hali Hali on Oct 25, 2015
    it may be a confederate rose