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Paulownia tomentosa |
 |
| | Bud things |
|
| Synonym(s) |
Bignonia tomentosa |
| Common name |
Chinese empress tree |
| Family |
scrophulariaceae |
| Life cycle |
tree |
| Flowers |
pink (spring) |
| Size |
to 80' |
| Light |
sun |
| Cultural notes |
ordinary garden soil |
From seed  |
easy, germinate at room temperature
|
Fast-growing hardy tree. We grew our empress tree from seed about five years ago, and it grew into a handsome tree - but it never bloomed. The last few years it produced bud-like structures in fall, but they were always dead come spring. So the main attraction is the large, felted, tropical-looking leaves. These are late to arrive in spring, and the first to go in fall, after a hard frost - no fall foliage, unfortunately.
After waiting for flowers in vain for several years, we decided the tree's time was up, and chopped it down, to gain a better view of the crab apple (which does bloom very reliably). Paulownias are known for returning from the roots, and are sometimes coppiced annually to promote large leaves. Sure enough, ours sprang right back into action after its trunk was severed, with amazing vigor. What's more, several additional shoots appeared at some distance from the original tree, sent up by wayward roots deprived of their source of nourishment.
| | After the first good freeze, all the leaves plop off unceremoniously, exposing the tree's open structure |
|
| | Light-colored, medium-textured bark |
| 
| | Very large furry leaves on the post-lop new growth |
|
| | Closeup of tan buds in November after leaf drop |
| 
| | Showing how tall the tree grew by late July after being lopped in early spring |
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In our garden, this plant grows in the following area: back yard island About my plant portraits
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| George | May 18, 2008 | We live in Des Moines Iowa and have expreienced the same issue. My mother wanted it for the flowers and we planted it 5 years ago and have never seen any flowers, but we like the large felty leaves and it propigates from the roots like crazy. |
| Jeffrey | Apr 29, 2008 | I recentley recieved this tree in the mail April 29, 2008 and it's 3" tall. I have the Tomentosa variety of the Royal Emprees Tree(Paulownia) and I was wondering what state or zone you live in. Because if the flower buds die on my tree due to cold weather then I will quickly throw it in the trash.
I'm in zone 6 |
| jack newbauer | Aug 20, 2008 | what is the difference between 1. a paulownia tree
2. a royal paulownia tree
3. a royal empress tree
4. a chineese empress tree
or are they all the same thing. I am trying to find what is called a chinese empress tree. thank you jack newbauer
To the best of my knowledge, those are all names applied to Paulownia tomentosa, interchangeably. |
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Last modified:
January 30, 2008
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