France in Focus

We have this lovely shrub/small tree in the garden that was gifted to Madame OBR about ten years ago as a sapling and was cultivated in a pot and now is in the garden. We haven't got a clue what it is called or how big it will get. Does anybody recognise it please?

It's beautiful OBR. I've tried my tree and shrub books but no joy.
It looks like some sort of ornamental tree or shrub, perhaps Japanese ?

Its a Catalpa tree I think, Iam a fan of Orchids, and the blossom looks a bit like an Orchid, so just typed in "Trees with Orchid like flowers" Voila

Don't think its catalpa as the leaves are wrong shape, the flowers are the same but catalpa leaves are much broader and more heart shape, we have one.
As for Orchids, my lovely lady is manic with them our house is full, I promise to post some photos asap.
In our acre park each year we dont cut a third of the grass till late because of the many rare wild orchids also to leave flowers for butterflies and insects.

The closest I can find is Chilopsis linearis - Desert Willow aka Willowleaf Catalpa. It's related to catalpa trees and trumpet vines. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/resul ... lant=chli2

I've got trumpet vines in my garden - well saying that it's been neglected so my front garden is really just lots of trumpet vines.

Well done Char, that certainly looks like it it !
It sounds like an ideal plant to have in hot dry conditions and is a very attractive tree.

Ah, but if I'm right then it's down to Spectrum's post, which sent me searching in the right direction.

Spectrum wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:00 pm Its a Catalpa tree I think, Iam a fan of Orchids, and the blossom looks a bit like an Orchid, so just typed in "Trees with Orchid like flowers" Voila

Thanks everyone - Wow! it can grow to thirty feet and flowers during the warm weather which it's certainly doing at the moment.