Empress Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

A tree fit for a queen! Commonly known as Empress tree or Royal Paulownia, it is a very fast-growing, dense shade tree for the Pacific Northwest and other areas with mild winters. The wood is extremely valuable and has many uses; in Japan, it's traditionally used to make dowry chests and other furniture. Each spring, the tree is covered with upright, conical clusters of trumpet-shaped, two-inch-long fragrant flowers that are gorgeous lilac blue: a display of spectacular beauty. The blooms provide good bee forage. Even young trees have two foot diameter, heart-shaped leaves.

In colder parts of its range, for the first few years, the new growth dies back each winter but tremendous summer growth more than compensates - regularly cut back side suckers to concentrate energy into a single trunk. Young trees grow best if given a lot of water in summer. Seeds from the long, thin, summer pods can start many new seedlings under mature trees in most favored locations, so be aware of the potential for rampant self-seeding.

Cold Hardy to USDA zone 7

Mature height: 30' (Large)

Sun: Full Sun

Ripening Time: N/A

Pollination: N/A