Pawlonia tomentosa, perhaps.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pawlonia

Also called princess or empress trees, extremely fast growing, get large, are incredibly beautiful when in full bloom, covered with lavender flowers that smell good. The wood is harvested for furniture. However it can be invasive. There are some varieties you can order that are non invasive.
There's a large beautiful one in Central Park.

Here is a link that might be useful: Princess

Also called princess or empress trees, extremely fast growing, get large, are incredibly beautiful when in full bloom, covered with lavender flowers that smell good. The wood is harvested for furniture. However it can be invasive. There are some varieties you can order that are non invasive.
There's a large beautiful one in Central Park.

Here is a link that might be useful: Princess

That 'however ' is a big one! In many parts of the country this plant has become a real problem. You should make every effort to find out the status of Paulownia as an invasive species before planting one. Your local extension service would be a good place to start.

There are no varieties that are proven 'non invasive' yet when it comes to the US.

Paulownia tomentosa is not considered an invasive species in the PNW. And can be coppiced to keep small (but prevents any flowering) and enhance foliar effect.

"There are no varieties that are proven 'non invasive' yet when it comes to the US"

Here is a link that might be useful: These folks would disagree.

I know they disagree but the thing is, they haven't been around long enough to say for sure. Often new "sterile" cultivars can become invasive later when they cross pollinate with old ones. Like 'Bradford' pear that begins to have viable fruit when you plant an 'Aristocrat' pear near it. Both of them were supposed to be sterile and they are ALONE. But when they are together ... they make babies.

And I'm glad that Paulownia is not YET invasive in the PNW. But it might be one day.

It took 80 years for japanese honeysuckle to become invasive in the southeast. Once it did, there was no stopping it.

'It took 80 years for Japanese honeysuckle to become invasive in the southeast'

So do I read you correctly. We shouldn't grow anything that has
proven to be invasive somewhere in the world and after at least
a life time without causing a problem? Seems overly cautious.

It certainly can be very invasive, but there are several legitimate sources of genetic non invasive varieties now on the market. The growing lumber industry from this fast growing tree is likely responsible for the work being done with them.
What is invasive to some is a good quality lumber for building homes to another.

I have none but have been researching them with much interest since learning of former President Jimmy Carter growing acreage of them for harvest as a fast growing sustainable lumber. Seems to be a growing industry.

Here is a link that might be useful: American paulownia assoc.

So do I read you correctly. We shouldn't grow anything that has proven to be invasive somewhere in the world and after at least a life time without causing a problem? Seems overly cautious.

Well I think the phrase "somewhere in the world" is a bit broad. But if it has proven to be invasive somewhere in a reasonably sized region (in this case, the US), then I think we should be cautious.

Look at Kudzu. It is now invasive in New York after moving through the South. Tree of Heaven has also proved to a wide-ranging invasive. Garlic mustard is now moving into the upper areas of Georgia after being a horrible invasive in northern states.

When plants spring up on their own in a new place (it sounds like this wasn't planted there), that should sound the alarm for invasive potential.

Here is a link that might be useful: Invasive reports for Paulownia in PNW

"Well I think the phrase "somewhere in the world" is a bit broad.
But if it has proven to be invasive somewhere in a reasonably sized region (in this case, the US)"
The problem I have with this philosophy is it would prevent parts
of the US that "problem invasives" WONT EVEN GROW from using them. IE much of the Central part of Texas where I live. See why this grates?

I don't mean for it to grate. I agree that some harsh environments may not support the invasiveness tendencies of many plants. Central Texas may be such a place. And I'm pretty sure I don't bring this point up to people in Texas much. But the PNW's climate (at least east of the Cascades) is pretty receptive to plants.

My main point is don't rule out future invasiveness just because none exists now.

And unfortunately this "philosophy" doesn't even begin to stop anyone from doing anything. It's mostly just people talking, hoping someone will listen. Nobody's making any laws against plants like Paulownia as far as I know. So your ability to grow these things in Texas is safe.

Sorry, that should be "west of the Cascades".

"Nobody's making any laws against plants like Paulownia as far as I know. So your ability to grow these things in Texas is safe.

For the time being!
Fortunately the economic downturn may stifle passage for a while longer.

http://www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2011/01/12/texas-updates-white-list-of-aquatic-plants.aspx

Here is a link that might be useful: White list

Not seeing anything about PNW at Esh's link. Have seen some limited sprouting of seedlings myself, certainly no patches or large stands. Just a few usually solitary ones here and there, always in rockeries or among rocks, presumably because that is where they get some protection from the annual drought that starts in July (among rocks is also where cactus seedlings tend to get started in the desert).

One of my trees also seeded into the yard across the street one year, they have an automatic irrigation system. Several came up together in a small area of exposed soil, and got weeded out.

The usual one here is P. tomentosa 'Lilacina'. Photos of flowers at Esh's link show that one also. The typical species produces darker, spotted flowers.

My link shows that Oregon has an invasive report on this. True there doesn't seem to be a way to determine who reported it.

The key point is that east Asian plants that proliferate to a nuisance extent in eastern North America don't get the rainy summers they like out here. From the upper part of Mexico north there is a split down the middle, into a dry summer left half and a wet summer right half; the annual precipitation curves of western Washington and Florida are almost exactly opposite one another.

The one Japanese honeysuckle I have seen growing on its own here was in a warm, moist pocket facing south, at the bottom of a tree-covered slope on the north end of a lake. Not very big, maybe a few yards across, if that, and no sign of it escaping its special little spot.

It is impossible to make broad generalizations about invasiveness of any particular species from one part of the country to another. The geography and climate conditions are so varied, how one plant performs in one area is never going to be a reasonable determination of how it can or will perform in another.

While the PNW is certainly conducive to the growth of a great many different plants - there are arguments that a zone 8 climate is best suited to the widest range of plants - we tend to have significantly fewer invasive issues than do areas like the east coast, southeast and parts of the midwest. Simply because our climate is so distinct.

It is always important to check local authorities for invasive concerns in your area. As with real estate, location, location, location is the overriding concern with regards to invasiveness.

Just a question, but wouldn't the Rocky Mountains help to stop the westward spread of some/all invasive plant species to the PNW - unless someone purposely plants an invasive species in the PNW? I know the honey bee's westward spread across America was stopped by the Rockies - they were brought to the west coast by ship. So I was wondering if the Rockies were any barrier to plants as well?

FataMorgana

Many invasive plants were brought to the west coast by people for various reasons...forage for livestock, as ornamentals, for erosion control, immigrants bringing plants from their homelands. Aquatics are carried on boats from lake to lake or purchased for aquariums, then tossed into bodies of water when the aquarium water is discarded. Don't forget seeds dropped by migrating birds. There are lots of ways to overcome the Rockies and Cascades. And now that we can order plants online from all over the world, it will be that much harder to keep up with them. JMO

"we tend to have significantly fewer invasive issues than do areas like the east coast, southeast and parts of the midwest."

I wouldn't say fewer, just different, yet many are the same.

Here is a link that might be useful: WA noxious weed list

The occupied landscape here has extensive infestations of blackberry, broom, clematis, holly, ivy, laurels and non-native grasses and low flowering plants. The vast majority of species in and around local cities are Eurasian in origin.

Thanks, all! I'll have to tell my Dad that it indeed isn't Jack's beanstalk..... He'll be disappointed about his unlikely access to the goose that lays golden eggs! I'm sure my parents will take the whole invasive plant possibilities into consideration.

If you read the WA noxious weed list carefully, you will see that it includes in majority mostly weeds :-) Unlike many other parts of the country where cultivated garden ornamentals - nandina, Japanese barberry, Miscanthus sinensis, privet, burning bush, silk tree, black locust, various honeysuckles, etc. - make up the bulk of the problem plants. The hollies and laurels remarked above (among other species) do not yet fit the definition of invasive - they have an ability to reseed rather freely and often in non-cultivated areas but not to the point of overwhelming native species or causing economic damage.

The only barrier to a plant's expansion across this country is any regulations prohibiting its transport....and even that is a dubious control, especially with folks transporting a treasure from granny's garden to a new home across the country, Not to mention mail order nurseries or the widespread garden trades and exchanges, like what occurs here on GW. Fortunately, to a very large extent, unbounded proliferation of invasive species is moderately well controlled by Ma Nature. If the setting/climate/growing conditions are not suitable, the plant won't thrive or will be unable to reproduce.