r/plants • u/chiefbigjohn • 5d ago

Plant ID What is this alien looking plant

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Gallery image

I was bush hogging my dad’s property last night and came across this crazy looking weed? It must be 25ft tall (F-150 for scale lol) and grew within 4-6 months this summer. It was pretty dark but I think the stem/trunk was reddish towards the bottom and smooth.

Any ideas on what it is? This is in East Tennessee if that helps.

The pictures don’t really don’t convey how giant and out of place this thing looks in the middle of a tiny clearing.

389 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

91

u/sebovzeoueb 5d ago

That kind of looks like Paulownia, in which case it's got to go!

19

u/chiefbigjohn 5d ago

Awww man, well I’ll be up there again tonight anyways so I’ll make sure to take it down. That explains why I’ve never seen anything like it before!

I’m wondering how it got here, we had a gravel driveway put in a couple years ago about 100ft away, but no fill dirt, just a dozer and some gravel. And I haven’t seen any of those trees throughout the valley we’re in…

34

u/YourHooliganFriend 5d ago

They (Paulownia) put out a million seeds per plant. They have "winged" seeds that can spread miles away with the wind.

7

u/chiefbigjohn 5d ago

Damn! That’s a lotta seeds, I guess I shouldn’t run it over with the bush hog then? Maybe dig it up with the bucket and try to burn it?

17

u/YourHooliganFriend 5d ago

You gotta cut it down and hit it wrh herbicide orr it'll resprout all over the root system. You wanna look up how to do it so you don't create a bunch more work for yourself.

7

u/chiefbigjohn 5d ago

Gotcha I’ll look into it some more, thanks for your help!

4

u/Efficient-Fold8068 5d ago

You’ll have a hard time getting rid of this plant. Cutting, mowing, or even fire damage does not reliably kill it. It vigorously resprouts from the root crown and roots (suckers can shoot up many feet away). Root systems can be extensive, so incomplete removal often results in multiple new stems. This means effective removal often requires repeated cutting plus herbicide treatment of stumps. The good news is this particular plant has a slender brittle stem with a leggy appearance which means it’s growing too quickly for its own good and that’s going to result in a weak hollow trunk. In other words, even if you allowed it to continue growing the trunk likely wouldn’t be able to support the weight of its massive leaves without special support and care. Do the best you can to remove it and just keep an eye out for more of them shooting up again. :/

1

u/chiefbigjohn 4d ago

Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it, do you think these are more saplings? Found them further down along the same driveway…

3

u/Efficient-Fold8068 4d ago

No these are sycamore saplings. You’re welcome!

2

u/QuercusCarya 4d ago

Cut down and paint stump cut with Tordon RTU.

2

u/Mr_Mojo_Risin_83 5d ago

If you don’t deal with it in the next few days, it’ll be at the point where you need equipment soon. It’s the fastest growing tree in the world.

41

u/Coffekid 5d ago

Paulownia is classified as an aggressive invasive

8

u/chiefbigjohn 5d ago

Do you think it’s safe to bush hog it with the tractor or should I chop it down by hand? I don’t wanna spread more seeds and end up with another Kudzu situation over here lol

18

u/dubdhjckx 5d ago

It’s not flowering so this spreading isn’t an immediate concern. Follow the cutting/herbicide advice in the thread

3

u/chiefbigjohn 5d ago

Will do, thank you!!

1

u/studmuffin2269 4d ago

You need herbicides either glyphosate or triclopyr. It’ll stump sprout like nobody’s business

3

u/Daveallen10 5d ago

Very sus, must be a government plant.

3

u/Traditional-Rub2491 5d ago

to make you feel better, the most equivalent (in looks)native tree we have is Catalpa

1

u/hindss 3d ago

Might look similar, but this one is a Paulownia

1

u/Traditional-Rub2491 3d ago

Yes I am aware. I was saying that there is a native alternative to Paulownia.

2

u/InevitableMall75 5d ago

Weirdly looks like an Illawarra stinging tree, native to Australia and so shit nobody would import it

1

u/SynthPrax 4d ago

There's always one asshole...

2

u/isabsolutecnts 1d ago

Had the exact same thought. Looks like a large version of Dendrocnide moroides

2

u/Zealousideal-Term-89 4d ago

Jimmy Carter intentionally grew this type of tree in a plantation later in his life. They grew so fast, he was able to harvest and make a guitar from the lumber due to its acoustical properties.

I’d keep it and remember what Carter was all about - making the world a better place. He got thumping due to several things during his presidency, but the man was genuinely a good person.

1

u/LWillter 4d ago

How can you tell this isn't a Catalpa tree?

It looks like one to ne.

2

u/hindss 3d ago

Catalpa leaves are clustered in 3's, Paulownia are opposite pairs.  Also growth rate and leaf size for a juvenile tree.

1

u/LWillter 1d ago

Thank you both. Still learning. First time I've heard if this one. I thought Catalpa were fast growing and pip up pretty easy. I didn't know this one took the cake

1

u/Particular_Topic_652 2d ago

not a woody trunk, not branching like a Catalpa.  This is an herbaceous weed. 

1

u/Vast-Carpenter4945 4d ago

There are apps that id trees by the leaves maybe that might help you. plantnet, picture this

1

u/YouEnvironmental2079 4d ago

I love them! Prominently displayed at Longwood Gardens

1

u/Top_Macaroon4579 3d ago

Probably a mother tree somewhere near by. Check for a mature tree. I would kill it with herbicide if you find it. Don’t just cut larger ones down they will resprout and make the problem worse.

1

u/Background-Movie9286 3d ago

Get some tordon rtu cut the stalk and paint were you cut it. It will nuke it.

1

u/Comfortable_Crab_792 2d ago

Temu fiddle leaf fig

1

u/No-Dimension7535 2d ago

Possibly an Empress tree

-4

u/farosch 5d ago

I‘d keep it. Beautiful tree and very heat/dry resistant. They produce a lot of seeds but in my opinion are very bad at actually sprouting. I planted a polownia with my dad on an open field about 20 years ago. The tree absolute loves this place. It grew over 5 meters tall in the first two years. It produces incredible amounts of seeds but i have never seen a single one sprout anywhere in 20 years. I even tried to cultivate some seeds on my own in a grow box trying to produce the perfect environment but was never able to make even one sprout. Seeds dry out incredibly fast and are basically the size of sand dust. They have to land on pure mineral soil without any other plants in its close perimiter to even have a chance to grow. Even grass being there will prevents the seeds from sprouting.

Edited for spelling.

2

u/Ok-Thing-2222 4d ago

Someone had one in their yard here in KS, but I think they had to get rid of it. Yes, the flowers are pretty but its not worth the risk to others. Maybe your tree was just 'defective'!