please can someone identity this?

hi I have two of these plants in my garden currently over 2 metres and growing. They don't flower (yet) and are around 4yrs old though I cut them right back 2 yrs ago so in effect this is 2 yrs growth. The leaves are over a foot across at least some of the anyway. Does anyone know what it is?

 

Welcome markygee.

Looks like Paulownia tomentosa. Common name Foxglove tree.
It is a large tree that will only flower when it gets much larger.
However, by cutting it down , ( coppicing it) you are in effect stopping it becoming a tree, therefore no flowers.

Also, cutting it back has the effect of it growing even larger leaves.
This is sometimes done in gardens such as Wisley to give a lush leafy effect.

Paulownia tomentosa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Pa...&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1270&bih=501

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=121

 

I hope they aren't trees here is a pic of a leaf if it helps its more than 12 inches across.

 

Still looking good for Paulownia. Sorry!

Google Images

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=Pa...tart=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=98&ty=67

 

I'd agree, definitely Paulownia, it's a fantastic tree for giving large tropical looking leaves when pruned back hard in spring just as the buds are swelling.

I grew one from seed years agao and it's in my mum's front garden, the main trunk at the base is about 10-12" across and it puts on about 8-10ft of growth in one year. It gets a LOT of chicken manure pellets around the base every spring and is fed and water with liquid seaweed.

My sister left another one that I grew from seed and it has flowered a couple of times when her tree reached about 15ft tall and was unpruned.

It would be a shame if you didn't keep them, I think they're great :thumb:

 

thanks for the help after checking your info I agree they are trees not tall back of the garden country cottage plants like I asked for. final question they're right upto the fence can I safely move them back before they get any bigger?

 

Once the leaves have dropped in the autumn and the plant is becoming dormant it should be safe to move them then and replant while the ground is realtively warm...:thumb:

Remember if you want big tropical leaves and stems to approx 8ft prune back to a pair of buds in the spring.

If you want a tree with a chance of flowers let it grow, but plant away from buildings, they do get big and are fast growing :thumb:

 

It is certainly Paulownia.