I'm very fond of growing mixed shrubs and trees (Chiltern Seeds Lottery Mixed) and this is one I grew about three years ago.
It's still quite small yet, it's deciduous, I moved it from its pot to the garden last year and I haven't a clue what it is.
Does anyone know?
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y165/godley/Mysteryshrub.jpg)
Is the photo deceptive, or are the leaves rather large?
It certainly looks like a paulownia tomentosa to me. A foxglove tree.
The new leaves unfurl and are slightly velvety. They also get lighter with age.
Thanks, Peasmad.
I don't know if it is what you suggest, but I certainly hope so. I've Googled some photos and I think it's lovely.
However, I've just been outside and measured it and it is only 7 and a half inches tall (after all this time) and those two large leaves at the top measure 5 inches lengthways.
I've noticed that when it produces new leaves at the top, they always have a kind of purply tinge to them and the leaves are very downy like velvet.
Paulownias are very much like a lot of trees and shrubs, they can appear to grow slowly at first, then take off. I bought one from j parkers, and as usual it was quite small when it arrived. About 3' of Y shaped bare stems, it's now 7 yrs old and 15' tall. The leaves stay rather large, until it reaches about 6 yrs old, then the leaves start to reduce in size each year. The leaves on my tree are about 8" long, They got to be about 15" long. It is a mature spec. at about 15-18' tall. and if it has a sunny summer, it may well reward with flowers in early spring before leaves appear. But it can be pruned hard every late winter to keep the huge leaves. Oh I must say, it's not so easy to propagate. it's got to be either seed or root cuttings, which is why i'm waiting for it to bloom. Lets hope u've grown one, They are lovely.