siege2050

I grew some of these this last January from seed as I love plants with big leaves, and was amazed that seed the size of a pinhead had grown into little trees with leaves the size of a peanut butter jar lid in like a month and a half. I was impressed and maybe a little frightened. By this last fall about 8 months later, they were approaching 3 feet tall with pretty big leaves, even in pots. I planted one, kept two in pots because I was just too lazy to plant em. The potted ones died back when it got cold so I put the pots in the greenhouse, and suckers have grown from the roots. I cut a piece of root with no visible eye, put it in a pot, and it grew into a new tree in a couple of weeks. I knew they were invasive in a lot of places south, so never had the intention of letting them go to seed if the freezes missed them, instead coppicing them for the big leaves, then sending them to plant heaven when I get too old to care for them. Now I am starting to get concerned I am going to have to fight an army of suckers even though I am not going to allow them to seed. Anybody have experience with these trees, should I keel it?

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nelumbo

Hi Siege

Here in the UK the plant does sucker a bit but wouldn't be out of control and could easily be dealt with a hoe or every now and again ripping (not cutting as this just creates a coppice) the young suckers off. Could be planted in a lawn and the mower will do the work.

These plants come very very easily from root cuttings and I think that this sometimes causes people to believe that their sucker badly, but in reality by digging/ planting under mature specimens the gardener has made hundreds of root cuttings with every spade cut???

Hope this helps

Chris

cincinnana

From what I have seen the tree is a heavy seeder and suckers could be the least of your worries.
If the plant gets loose you will absolutly regret it.
The tree is an invasive in many states

When mature the tree is "dirty" first dropping flowers then billions of seeds then those big leaves.

On a similar note..

Have you considered Giant Hogweed

I actually got one in a plant trade a few years back, the previous owner had no idea how dangerous it was but she liked the giant foliage.
She is lucky she still has her hands.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum

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siege2050

I am just growing it to coppice, or chop down each year for the big leaves so it wont seed. I think I will pass on the Hogweed, thats some scary stuff lol. I hope it never gets started around here. I plan on destroying the paulownia when I get too old to care for the yard anymore, makes nice big leaves.

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cincinnana

That plant has great leaves.....big. Will look great once you start working on it.

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