What is this tree please?

It does look exactly like a Catalpa, but it takes them about 7 years to begin flowering.

@thorninmud Thanks for that info. What sandwich can I get ya? :)

Does it have purple flowers like orchids ?

It maybe an Empress Royal Paulownia Tree, they have large leaves

@Tropical_Willie I just moved to this house in Feb so what you see in the pic is what it was looked like to date and no flowers or buds or fruit as of yet. I don’t think it is the tree you suggest though it does look a lot like a young Paulownia. This tree in my yard has smooth shiny leaves with clean edges.

Might be. I have one that is three years old, and eight foot high. Leaves are similar to Catalpa when they are young.

It does look like a Caltalpa to me, one of my favorite trees! Lucky you!

There is one down the road from me I pass every day in someones yard, it is THE biggest one I have ever seen, I’d say it is about 50 feet tall, maybe more, and in full bloom right now, dense cascades of white flowers, and, it is literally as big around as a house. I am not exagerating!

It is AMAZING! Every time I drive by I can hardly keep my eyes on the road. I might have to ask if I can go sit under it one afternoon. I’d give anything to have that beauty in my yard!

I planted 2 Smoke trees a few years ago, this is the year they have really taken off, they are gorgeous too!

Okay, Colomas had too much coffee and she’s on a jag, carry on! lol

Thanks @Coloma! I am hoping it does not get THAT big as it is only 12 feet from my sun room and you are welcome to come sit under the tree anytime and I will even bring you out hot coffee or a 3 olive martini or both!

@Cruiser

Thanks, but, never fear, they are fairly fast growing but, it’d probably take another 30–40 years for it to match the monolith near me. Maybe you can be buried under it. lol

@Coloma Well that is actually good news that it is fast growing as a lot of the trees on my property are Ash and they are under attack right now from the Emerald Ash Borer and I think know I will be losing a few soon and was contemplating what to re-plant and won’t have to worry now about that part of the yard! :)

@Cruiser

Bummer. My old house had Ponderosa pines and there was a pine root borer beetle problem in my county at tha timet. A lot of magnificent pines turned brown and died.

Plant some Smoke trees too, they are gorgeous and fairly drought resistant too. :-)

@Coloma Do you know if the smoke trees can handle wet soil conditions? My yard is next to a wetland.

@Cruiser

Mmm…I don;t know if being constantly wet would rot them. I water mine every 3 days or so in the really hot weather, but, we can get days of 100 degree dry heat here.

If they are just kept evenly moist probably okay, if they are wallowing in underground mud, probably not. All you can do is experiment, plant one and see how it does over a year or so. Most young trees take a couple of years to get established, then, wham..they take off overnight!