Could you identify this tree for me?
I'm emailing a photo to askagardener@pennhort.org This is a small tree with light gray bark and fruit/flower pods that look like little figs until they open to amazing orange sticky flowers. I have looked online but have had no luck identifying. They seem to be everywhere in this one spot along the Schuylkill River.
Some kind of ornamental....
?
Some kind of ornamental....
?
Answer
The tree is a paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera. This deciduous shrub or small tree is native to Asia and has been introduced here. It's commonly seen here on the east coast in urban landscapes.
Google images of Broussonetia papyrifera.
See the PLANTS database and Wikipedia article for more details.
-je