In the fall of 2004 I was called to the site of a customer in Franklin whose home had tragically burned. The fire had been so hot that many of the surrounding trees were severely damaged by heat. One of which was a large Pawlonia tree, an introduced Asian tree species whose seedling were sprouting up all over the footprint of the soon to be rebuilt home. I used what I could to wrestle a small one from the earth and took it home and planted it near the street by my
driveway. It sent up a shoot the
following spring which my wife broke off thinking it was a weed. Fearing the worst, I waited and watched until in early June a new shoot emerged.
That year this Pawlonia tree grew 12 feet tall with leaves larger than a lunch room tray! The freeze of 2007 was a set back but it soon picked up growing again.
In 2010 it promises to bloom for the first time. You can see the flower buds it has set for the coming spring. They have a
beautiful light purple color. As you look at it, remember it has only been growing in this place since June of 2005…So if you want a fast growing beautiful flowering tree, a Pawlonia may be an option to look for you!
You must log in to post a comment.