This Chinese tree is famous for its attractive blue flowers, unusually large leaves, and valuable light strong wood. Assignment to family remains uncertain (APG, W). Paulownia has been widely planted in southeastern states, and has became much naturalized, especially in a zone from Va. to Ark. (K, SE). In Ky. it is locally frequent along roadsides, and sometimes colonizes gaps within mature native forest. Some mapped colls. may come from planted trees, but the species is clearly self-seeded at many sites. Sight records of SE are added as open dots. The species has the largest foliar units (without compounding) among wild woody plants of Ky.; see also notes under Catalpa speciosa, which is sometimes confused. Leaf blades are mostly 15-40 cm long and wide, but on sprouts they are up to 50-80 cm across; petioles are mostly 10-20 cm long. Like Catalpa, leaves of Paulownia tomentosa are opposite or in whorls of three, and major veins diverge from near the base of blades. In contrast to Catalpa, blades tend to have broader shape, without long-acuminate tips. Also, they often have two or four shallow lobes, and additional serrations are often present; blades of Catalpa are entire.