The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about the rearing and delivery of a dozen princess trees (Paulownia tomentosa) to replace those removed from Logan Square. Though the species, which is native to China, is considered invasive (keep reading), the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society decided against replacing the dying and diseased specimens with native species, noting that they "were just too important historically and aesthetically." Better yet, a member of the American Paulownia Association disputes the invasiveness of Paulownia in Pennsylvania, saying that fossil records in the Pacific Northwest indicate the species is native, and that "This tree got a bad rap because people didn't do their homework."
So, students of invasive plants, did you do your homework? I thought so.
Update: John over at Invasive Notes has a post on this subject that is definitely worth reading.
1 comment:
That's right. If it grows 3,000 miles away and will grow here, it must be native. Q.E.D.
The Biltmore Estate in Asheville has some mighty old ornamental, oriental bittersweet. I understand they consider it historic there, too.
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