Please help identify

[Desirai]

This tree shrub bush thing has been growing in the yard. I refused to cut it down because I just KNEW it was something.

I've had it all year and it hasn't bloomed yet. The leaves are fuzzy. It has spawned several little babies of itself around the base, I guess from the roots. Some of them I clip down, others I've let grow. It's grown enormous.



[img]https://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/296646_10150292942774263_620624262_8059159_1308738257_n.jpg[/img]

[lorax]

Check against the highly variable Paulownia tomentosa. With the fuzziness and the growth rate you're describing, that's most likely it.

Empress trees might be a weed in your area - check with the local extension offices.

[Desirai]

I asked my grandma and she says that my aunt calls this mystery tree a "jerusalem rose" and after google searches I can't find anything.

She says it blooms big white flowers.

Have you ever heard of anything?

[rainbowgardener]

I think the Jerusalem rose is also called Confederate rose.

It is actually a hibiscus:

[url=https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.rarefloweringtrees.com/g2/main.php%3Fg2_view%3Dcore.DownloadItem%26g2_itemId%3D863%26g2_serialNumber%3D2&imgrefurl=https://www.rarefloweringtrees.com/g2/main.php%3Fg2_itemId%3D861&h=480&w=640&sz=61&tbnid=lZYvxnbNKwLmnM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=128&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhibiscus%2Bmutabilis%2Bconfederate%2Brose%2Bimages%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=0&q=hibiscus+mutabilis+confederate+rose+images&docid=_vCh44Nog4Re_M&itg=1&sa=X&ei=MvJsTsiTKM6tgQfKpfHyBQ&ved=0CEwQ9QEwEA&dur=3328]hibiscus mutabilis[/url]

The flowers start white and turn pinkish.

I'm not for sure that's what you have, but it looks closer to that than to the empress tree.

[!potatoes!]

those vaguely maple-shaped fuzzy leaves (with more shoots coming from the base) make me think purple-flowered raspberry. not getting any taller than a few feet?

[Desirai]

I'm almost positive it's that confederate rose hibiscus thingy. Thanks for the info