- Author: Lowell Cooper
I am writing this blog note from Rte 89 on the way on a road trip from Hoover Dam to Glacier and back to Benicia by the end of the month. Can't get a picture but to describe the plant in question is the best I can do. This is the third year in a row I found a volunteer amongst my roses. While I was busy ruminating about what it might be , it grew. And grew and grew. I became convinced it was a rogue giant sunflower. It never flowered. I cut it down when I began to feel like the leaves would swallow my house. But it grew back. One major stalk abou 2" across. A minor pup only 1". When we left on our road trip, the plant was at least 12' tall with leaves the size of a baby blanket. No flower, ever. I submit this as a teaser: what is it? Next time I will submit it with a picture. Call me stumped.
AKA Princess Tree, Foxglove Tree, Royal Empress Tree.
Very invasive, FAST growing tree, one of the fastest. 1st year root growth, large root structures. Large Dark Green Leaves, flowers purple after matured. ~Caroline
I saw one of these blooming in Berkeley and was taken aback by its stunning show of lavender flower clusters. It took quite a bit of digging to determine what it was, I had never seen anything like it in California. Good luck!
Melissa Womack
mgwomack@ucanr.edu