Question

Mystery Plant   QUESTION: Hi, I'd like help in identifying a tree. Very unusual story. Almost 20 years ago I went to a plant/flower show in NY city. One of the booths sold me a stick about a foot long and 1 inch wide. They said it was from Hawaii and all I had to do is stick it in the ground and it would grow. Well, recently we moved and I found this unopened package and decided what the heck, might as well stick it in the ground and see what happens. My friends and I can hardly believe what happened. In less than a year, it has grown higher than the roof of our house (I'd estimate 15+ft!!!). The leaves look like elephant ears and have a velvet texture. I have a nice picture attached. Any help in identifying this plant would be appreciated. I'd like to get a couple more.

ANSWER: This is paulownia more than likley Paulownia orienta.

Paulownia "Orienta" is a very fast growing ornamental tree. It can grow up to 15 feet in the first year....

The tree is perfect for the beautification of residential properties, and makes great borders around yards. The tree is deciduous, this means it drops it's leaves in Fall allowing sunlight to gardens and yards when it's most needed.

In the very early part of Spring, the trees produce a brilliant display of mauve-white blossom in racemes that look like masses of cascading orchids. Please note the trees do not generally produce flowers until year 3.

The blossoms last 2-4 weeks then the tree re-foliates with it's enormous lush and exotic leaves creating a luxuriant, cool Summer shade. The leaves can grow up to 36" in diameter in the first 2 years and look just like elephant ears.

"Orienta" will definitely enhance the beauty of any yard with flowers that will perfume a garden with a delicate fragrance. A definite paradise for birds and gardeners alike.

Keep the trees to a single, main stem. Prune off lower leaves and remove all suckers. Always maintain 10-12 main leaves. DO NOT over prune. As the tree gains height over the first 1 - 2 years, prune it up to where the desired canopy should start.

Paulownia is known in Japanese as kiri (桐), specifically referring to P. tomentosa; it is also known as the "princess tree".   It has been known as the Japanese Emporess Tree in Japan.  It was once customary to plant a Paulownia tree when a baby girl was born, and then to make it into a dresser as a wedding present when she gets married. It is the badge of the government of Japan (vis-?vis the chrysanthemum being the Imperial Seal of Japan). It is one of the suits in hanafuda, associated with the month of December. Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (page 1189; Tokyo: Kodansha, 1993. ISBN 4-06-931098-3) states: The genus was named in honour of Queen Anna Pavlovna of The Netherlands (1795?865), daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia to copy the tradition given by the Japanese in honor of the princess. Paulownia fortunei is a fast-growing tree that is grown commercially for the production of hardwood timber.  Paulownia wood is very light, fine-grained, soft, and warp-resistant and is used for chests, boxes, and clogs (geta). The wood is burned to make charcoal for sketching and powder for fireworks, the bark is made into a dye, and the leaves are used in vermicide preparations.

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QUESTION: If I cut a branch off, stick it in the ground and water it, will it grow into a new tree?

Answer
It does not look like there are many real branches but mostly main stems with leaves coming from them. I would wait until the end of the next growing season and the tree should exibit true branches. The end of the lower branches could be cut off( 10-12 inches) and this put into a moist soil and it should sprout a new tree. You do not want to cut too many of the limbs off it will need these and the foliage to grow a good root system. But yes they will sprout but I would wait. You did not say where you are located--paulownia does not do too well in very cold weather and you may see the tree killed back this winter. If so it should sprout back from the roots next spring.