The "Paulowia Tomentosa" is considered a noxious weed by the USDA and the states that have these growing in them. I would not use anything from this tree in my yard unless I was sure any seeds were not viable.

It depends where you live. If you live in this shades area, I would NOT recommend paulownia, because it could become very invasive. In other places it may still become invasive, but it should not be an issue. http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for39/fff00166.gif However, if you live outside, I would give it a shot despite what some others say. It is not the tree from hell, it just needs some TLC the first few years, don't just plant it and leave it be...otherwise it will become an invasive trash tree. If you have time, keep it, if not, move it to the garden and coppice it each year for its large tropical leaves. And even though people say its hollow, compare a hole the size of your thumb with a mature tree. Not very noticeable now is it? On younger stems, about 50% is the softwood, but in the "hollow" part, it has some light plant material and is fairly strong and limber, again, just needs some TLC to keeps from getting too frail. If you decided to get rid of it, might I suggest the northern magnolia? It is a little compact, but has nice medium large pink blooms that do not attract bees, and have a light sweet fragrance which is could for those who have allergies. Hope this helps!

Well crap... when he was describing the tree to me before he dug it up, I was thinking hickory because we have quite a few carya tomentosa around. We also have a TON of ash. However, our ash tree leaves are not "toothed" or serrated or whatever like this tree is. Our hickory leaves do look somewhat similar but the proportions are not quite right. Our hickory leaves are wider at the very end of the leaves and more narrow at the base than this one. Of course the leaf arrangement is the same as our c. tomentosa. Ash bark is very white on young trees around here and the hickory bark is a charcoal grey/black. It was almost dark when I got it and I forgot to look at the stem when taking pics. The worst part about all this is I don't even know where he lives to thank him! (and secretly scour his property for potential parentage ;-) ) The first time I met him was two days ago when he stopped by while I was watering after 9 pm (after my other neighbor shot his blow up pool with a shotgun lol)

i have 2 and they are a messy tree big seed pod thingies and when winter comes the big leaves just drop no change of color, swallow roots, but they grow very fast and make instant shade so the good evens out the bad. i am in the middle of an old hay meadow with no shade trees so we planted these about 5-7 years ago and the are very big and great shade on the west end of the house.