Whats a good site to help me identify a tree?

Question

I have a huge leaf it feels like velvet and some dried up seed pods that look some what like a cluster of walnuts (but not). I live in western New York and i know this tree gets purple flowers in the spring. I'm looking for a good site to help me identify the tree

Answer 1

Your description of a tree with purple flowers in spring, huge velvety leaves & clusters of capsules that look like walnuts sounds like the Princess tree, also known as Royal Paulownia or Royal Empress Tree.
Take a look:
http://daviswiki.org/Empress_Tree
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=ush-ans&va=royal+empress+tree&sz=all
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/pato7.htm
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm
http://www.hsu.edu/default.aspx?id=6401

Site identifying other purple-flowering trees:
http://www.virtualplanttags.com/PurpleFloweringTrees.htm

Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Hmmm....I live in the southwest which is a long ways from New York. However the resource site below has some pictures and descriptions of trees that do well in the Southwest and Northwest....Check it out.

Answer 3

Sounds like you have a Royal Empress tree. They are a very fast growing tree, and can reach about 40 feet.

Answer 4

Search for "identifying trees" for some help.

Answer 5

What tree is that?
http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeID.cfm
http://www.oplin.org/tree/
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm

Database for trees. Search for species by State, Province, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Floristic Region (Biome)
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/factsheets.cfm

tree keys
http://www.clemson.edu/extfor/publications/bul117/leaf_key.htm
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/tree-key/simple-leaf-trees.htm

NY
http://www.buffalogardens.com/
http://www.bbg.org/sci/taxonomy/
http://www.treesny.com/
http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/fall-2003-catalog/trees-ny.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5248.html

Leaf guides
http://www.maurycountylibrary.org/leaf_id.htm
http://www.mbgnet.net/
http://www.inspire.net/trees/leaf/byleaf.html
http://www2.volstate.edu/JSchibig/tree%20key.htm
http://www.realtimerendering.com/trees/trees.html

Answer 6

You can bring the leaf to your local nursery. They can help you identify the variety.