Japanese Empress Tree
The royal empress tree grows rapidly to a height of 30 40 feet or even more with a similar spread unless regularly pruned.
Japanese empress tree. The royal empress tree is named after the russian grand duchess anna pavlovna paulowna who was the wife of king william ii of the netherlands in the early 19 th century. It is an extremely fast growing tree with seeds that disperse readily and is a persistent exotic introduced species in north america where it has undergone naturalisation in large areas of the eastern us. The reasons are that the wood. Paulownia is fast growing and sometimes grows as much as 8 to 10 feet in a single.
Paulownia trees grow rapidly and can even regenerate after being consumed by fire. Full sun is best for its exposure and well draining soil is essential to the health of the tree. The empress tree paulownia tomentosa also sometimes called royal paulownia or princess tree is part of the shrubby scrophulariaceae family native to china it has long been used as an ornamental tree in the west and has naturalized itself in some places. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9 and has.
The japanese prize it highly for making sandals click to see some nice ones. It has sturdy branches with large leaves that are. However open almost any gardening magazine and you ll find adds touting this tree as an amazing fast growing shade tree. In japan it is the emblem of the prime minister.
Known as the princess tree empress tree and royal empress tree paulownia trees are highly invasive and are destroying native ecosystems from maine to florida and texas as well as the pacific northwest. Named for anna pavlovna daughter of czar paul i empress tree paulownia tomentosa is native to china where its wood has been used for more than 1000 years for making furniture musicals instruments carvings pots bowls and spoons. Empress trees are nearly indestructible once they have become established but do require some care in their early stages of growth. A paulownia tomentosa tree commonly called empress tree or princess tree only looks exotic.
Plant your tree after the last frost or when surrounding plants begin to bud out. Then it will mature at the same time she does. In fact it grows in u s. The empress splendor tree is the fastest growing hardwood tree in the world guinness book of world records reaching maturity within 10 years the empress is a member of the paulownia family a sacred tree of the orient long revered for its fast growth and quality wood.
The fragrant flowers of this very fast growing tree grow in abundance. Japanese families often plant a royal empress tree at the birth of a girl. When it is time for her to be married then the tradition is to cut the tree down carving the wood into articles for her dowry.