I did some reading and I believe Catalpa may be a better choice for waht I
had in mind.


"Cereus-validus..." wrote in message
. com...
If you want to grow a similar looking tree that is better behaved, try
Catalpa instead.


http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/c...ew/catalpa_big
nonioides.html


http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/c...ew/catalpa_spe
ciosa.html


"James" wrote in message
...

"paghat" wrote in message
news
In article , "James"
wrote:

I'm wanting to start some Royal Empress trees from seed and plant a
row
of
them along my long driveway. ( PAULOWNIA tomentosa) Anyone had these
trees
and am wondering about any drawbacks to the idea?

Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Initiative requests that people
voluntarily stop planting these trees even in places where they are not
yet illegal. They sometimes sucker & invariably self-seed like weeds,
to
the point of being invasive. They are illegal in about a dozen states,
&
are on lists recommended for banning in several more regions. In
Connecticut for example (as of this past October) you can be fined a
hundred dollars for planting, transplanting, or selling paulownia. The
species has already proven itself a danger to native species in several
areas around the United States, being worst in the east, south &
southwest, but not yet too late to keep it from spreading throughout
the
west.

They grow rapidly but have weak wood that easily rots from the inside
which is naturally hollow. They can snap at any point along the trunk
in
storms, threatening nearby structures. They are not especially
longlived
trees. It is recommended at the very least that they be planted only
with
caution, & their use is strongly discouraged even where still legal.
There
are so many finer safer choices that can be made.

-paghat the ratgirl


Know of a good substitute for this fast growing tree?