Can anyone tell me what this tree that looks like an umbrella is?

ingin, member

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Umbrella shaped tree? 1 large leaf per stem

DBeshires

Just Planted 1st week in June

DBeshires

Tree now on 10-30-11

DBeshires

Umbrella shaped tree? 1 large leaf per stem

Photo: DBeshires

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I bought this tree from a man on the side of the road in South Alabama, while I was there visiting my sister, and we were on the way to Pensacola Beach in FL, to spend the day. The leaf looks a lot like the leaf of a fig tree, which we also bought from the same person. We planted it in the backyard at our home, 20 miles from the Mississippi River, 35 miles north of Memphis, TN. Sis called it an umbrella tree. It does have an umbrella appearance. A search on the internet shows several types of umbrella trees, but I haven't seen any that look like this tree. It grows quickly and has added 2 feet to its height over the summer and is now aprox 5 feet tall. I need to know what to do, if anything, to help this tree survive through winter in my planting zone.

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What is this plant?

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Comments (8)

ingin writes: Thank you a lot "Gardenmagic". It is a Firmiana Simplex! Or a chinese Parasol. Or varnish tree. A search on the web shows pictures that look like this tree. Posted: 1:01 pm on March 19th

Gardenmagic writes: Firmiana simplex. Chinese parasol
Posted: 9:42 am on December 25th

ingin writes: Well, I know its not a castor bean (mole bean) plant. I actually bought one of those also, when I bought this so called umbrella tree by the seller, and a fig tree. I again must point it out to take a close look at the shape of the leaf. It has the shape of a fig leaf. Also my neighbor also has castor bean plants that get up to 12 ft high. The so called umbrella (what sis calls it) in her yard is 17 ft tall already and its just 3 years old. I hope this tree can survive the cold because its snowing here right now. Posted: 3:37 pm on November 28th

eglantyne writes: That's not castor bean. My first thought was Paulownia too. Posted: 11:30 pm on November 16th

HeadToad writes: Could it be a castor bean plant? I grew some decades ago, and the leaves look like this, but I could be wrong. If it is what I grew, be careful of any seeds it produces. They produce the poison ricin. Posted: 7:29 pm on November 16th

ingin writes: Well I searched the Empress Tree (Paulownia kawakamii) this morning with yahoo and I don't think the leaf looks the same as the plant I have, although the leaf on the end of a long stem is similar. Posted: 10:55 am on November 13th

ingin writes: THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP ON THIS PLANT!!
I'VE FELT THIS PAIN BEFORE ....WE PLANTED SOME BAMBOO SHOOTS ONE YEAR AND THEY WERE ABOUT 2 FEET TALL.WITHIN 6 MONTHS THESE PLANTS WERE SPREADING BEYOND BELIEF. BY SPRING THE NEXT YEAR WE HAD BIRD VISITORS. THIS TURNED INTO A HAZARD FOR THE THE HUMAN LIFE..3RD YEAR WANTED TO KILL IT BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY MEANS TO KILL IT, MEANTIME ITS KILLING US...BIRD POO WAS SO STRONG YOU COULD NOT BREATH IN IT (HISTOPLASMOSIS - A FUNGAL LUNG DISEASE). AGAIN WE TRIED TO KILL IT WITH FIRE. STILL IT RETURNED EVERY YEAR. AFTER YEAR 5 MYSELF AND MY FATHER GOT ACTUAL CUTTING YARD TOOLS AND HACKED STALK AFTER STALK, IT TOOK 3 DAYS. WE WORE HATS ON OUR HEAD BREATHING MASKS TO COVER OUR FACE, BOOTS, AND HAD TO BREAK FOR 30 MINUTES AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO CUT MORE. I LOOKED IT UP AND DISCOVERED IT IS THE DEVIL PLANT. YOUR SORRY YOU EVER PLANTED IT , IT TAKES OVER YARD LIFE, THE ROOTS GROW IN SHOOTS UNDER THE GROUND AND MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL. SO DON'T EVER PLANT IT.OR YOU WILL REGRET IT. THATS MY STORY OF THE DEVIL PLANT..... Posted: 9:26 pm on November 12th

elsiedog writes: I think it is an Empress Tree (Paulownia kawakamii) and you should really read more about it to decide if it is something you want in your yard. Some people seem to like them, but there is one that sprouted up against my neighbor's side of our fence a couple years ago. It was not "planted" by human hand and I believe the only way to get rid of it will be with dynamite. It has grown to an unkempt ungainly 25+ feet since I first boticed it as a 2 foot sapling and that is AFTER i figured out what it was and hacksawed it to the ground in 2009. I tried pulling it but it was impossible. The leaves get smaller with time and they fall all year up here (not just in fall). The flowers fall all over creating a brown mat on the ground that is harde to sweep up or rake. AND it roots and grows babies super fast. One lodged in a tiny crack on the edge of my concrete and stone foundation and by the time I noticed it (apx 12 inches in length) it could NOT be pulled out. You will undoubtedly end up with many many more (maybe consider a side business selling them roadside : ) BUT again - some of it is personal preference - just my best guess but try researching for more photos online to see if I am right. Good luck : ) ECT Posted: 2:35 pm on November 9th

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