About John Cash Expertise I can identify most cultivated ornamental plants both tropical plants and landscaping varieties depending on how much information I am given. I can also identify most native wild plants of the US at least to the Family and Genus. For the best chance of identification, I need pictures of leaves, stem, flowers, and fruit or seed. Send your pictures to john@arklatexwatergardens.com. I will answer your questions on AllExperts. Please make sure you size your pictures before you send them. Large pictures are VERY SLOW to download.
Experience I have been in the nursery/garden center business since 1976. I am an exotic plant collector and ornamental plant grower. I have studied plant identification all over the South East United States and in tropical Pacific coast Mexico.
Education/Credentials I have a B.S. Degree in Horticulture, a B.S. Degree in Botany with an emphasis on Taxonomy (plant identification) and a Master's degree in Floriculture (ornamental horticulture).
Expert: John Cash Date: 6/27/2007 Subject: What is this growing in my back yard
Question Can you tell me what kind of plant this is? I did not plant it, it just started growing 3 years ago, and is reaching the top of my house.
In the winter, the leaves turn yellow and both the stem and leaf will fall off, just leaving the branch.
It has a kind a sticky feeling, this might be because, it is growing at the base of the water hole from the drain off water from the washer, it has thrived off of Hot or cold water, bleach, Ect"
What is this thing?
Answer Jackie,
That tree is a Paulownia, or Empress Tree. It makes a very large tree with large clusters of purple flowers. It is a really nice tree, but it is rather short lived. 10 or 15 years at most, but in that time it can get well over 30' tall.
Have you seen the promo adds in the paper advertising the "World's fastest growing tree"? That's the Paulownia.
