Thanks to a FB post in a very local group, I was drawn to check for myself on my way home from work today. Yes, it really was a Paulownia Tomentosa, the Chinese Foxglove tree.
Still very young, it’s planted in the grounds of a Health Centre, and will eventually grow into a magnificent specimen.
This is one tree that I plan to watch for years to come.
Lucid Gypsy 
What a very striking tree.
Love these trees I have grown a few from a seed pod I found…not as big as these though!
I never knew there was one. What a wonderful find!
I remember seeing these in glorious flower across China from the window of the Trans Mongolian Express
This is a beautiful tree … what a specimen. Oh so worth watching Gilly 😃
wow! Hope it enjoys life here and does well