Skip to content

Empress Tree

Paulownia Tomentosa

Design with this plant

Overview

The Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa), thrives in zones 5-9, and is a rapid-growing, deciduous choice, reaching up to 40-50 ft tall with a spread of 30-40 ft. Known for its large heart-shaped leaves and showy, fragrant lavender blossoms in spring, this tree prefers full sun. It is adaptable but favors well-drained soils. Requires space and light pruning to control its size and avoid self-seeding, as it can become invasive.

Sun FullWater MediumZones 5–8Type Tree

Culture

Sun
Full
Water
Medium
USDA zones
5–8

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Tree
Family
Paulowniaceae

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (122)

Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — lavender flowers in the garden
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — commonly thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — Requires space and light pruning to control its size and avoid self-seeding, as it can become invasive, image 73
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — this tree prefers full sun; this deciduous tree can soar to heights ranging from 30 to 50 feet, image 49
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — offering a dense canopy that provides ample shade in the summer months
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — and is renowned for its astonishing growth rate and impressive canopy; though adaptable to a variety of soil, image 75
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — fragrant lavender blossoms in spring
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — commonly thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8; and is renowned for its astonishing growth rate and, image 74
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — offering a dense canopy that provides ample shade in the summer months; with sizes ranging from 5 to 12 inches, image 81
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — This deciduous tree can soar to heights ranging from 30 to 50 feet
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — often before the heart-shaped leaves unfurl; tree for full, image 101
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — This deciduous tree can soar to heights ranging from 30 to 50 feet; the Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa), image 54
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — the Empress Tree is an exceptional choice
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — Requires space and light pruning to control its size and avoid self-seeding, as it can become invasive, image 95
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — with a widespread canopy extending to 30 to 40 feet at maturity
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — tree for full; the Empress Tree is an exceptional choice
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — The Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa); fragrant lavender blossoms in spring, image 45
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — It is adaptable but favors well-drained soils; this species prefers moist, image 94
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — this species prefers moist
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — and is renowned for its astonishing growth rate and impressive canopy
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — This deciduous tree can soar to heights ranging from 30 to 50 feet; the Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa), image 76
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — The Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — reaching up to 40-50 ft tall with a spread of 30-40 ft; with a widespread canopy extending to 30 to 40 feet at, image 68
Empress Tree (Paulownia Tomentosa) — with sizes ranging from 5 to 12 inches across; requires space and light pruning to control its size and avoid, image 80
Photographs by 17 contributors

Related plants