Chinese parasoltree Sterculiaceae Firmiana simplex (L.) W. Wight   symbol: FISI2
	Leaf: Alternate, simple, very large 3 to 5 lobed leaves (often maple looking), 8 to over 12 inches long and wide, very long petiole, bright green above, often fuzzy beneath. Flower: Large (12 to 18 inches), upright, loose, terminal clusters of yellow-green flowers, appearing in mid-summer. Fruit: Interesting pods that soon splits open into four petal-like sections (3 to 4 inches long); 1/4 inch round, reddish brown seeds are found hanging inside, ripen in late summer and persist into the fall. Twig: Stout, green, large nearly circular leaf scar; bud large, round with numerous fuzzy red-brown scales. Bark: Attractive, thin, smooth, green with paler greenish white stripes; on large specimens the trunk will develop shallow splits and turn gray-brown. Form: An upright small tree with an oval crown reaching up to 30 to 40 feet tall.
	USDA Plants Database Firmiana simplex is planted in the highlighted USDA hardiness zones to the left and may seed into the landscape. See a map of the states in which Chinese parasoltree has escaped (opens a new window).