Paulownia Species, Empress Tree, Princess Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

Genus
Paulownia (pa-LOH-nee-a)
Species
tomentosa (toh-men-TOH-suh)
Synonym
Bignonia tomentosa
Paulownia coreana
Paulownia grandifolia
Paulownia imperialis
Paulownia recurva
Other Details
Water Requirements
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Lincoln, (258 reports)

Pelham, Alabama

Salem, Alabama

Vincent, Alabama

Anthem, Arizona

Chandler Heights, Arizona

Chuichu, Arizona

Queen Creek, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona

Tempe, Arizona

Batesville, Arkansas

Blytheville, Arkansas

Cord, Arkansas

Deer, Arkansas

Fox, Arkansas

Mountain View, Arkansas

Altadena, California

Amesti, California

Concow, California

Corralitos, California

Elkhorn, California

Fair Oaks, California

Garden Grove, California

Grass Valley, California

Hughson, California

Interlaken, California

Lower Lake, California

Oroville, California

Pajaro, California

Reseda, California

Richmond, California

San Diego, California

San Leandro, California

Thermalito, California

Thousand Oaks, California

Watsonville, California

Danielson, Connecticut

Waterford, Connecticut

Bartow, Florida

Crestview, Florida

Dunnellon, Florida

Fountain, Florida

Green Cove Springs, Florida

Hernando, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Keystone Heights, Florida

Milton, Florida

Sanford, Florida

Commerce, Georgia

Conyers, Georgia

Danielsville, Georgia

Monroe, Georgia

Valdosta, Georgia(2 reports)

Huntley, Illinois

New Lenox, Illinois

Winnetka, Illinois

Derby, Kansas

Olathe, Kansas

Barbourville, Kentucky

Corbin, Kentucky

Upton, Kentucky

Crowley, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

Brookeville, Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland

Ellicott City, Maryland(2 reports)

Valley Lee, Maryland

Groveland, Massachusetts

Roslindale, Massachusetts

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Detroit, Michigan

Natchez, Mississippi

Holts Summit, Missouri

Saint Clair, Missouri

Helena, Montana

Norfolk, Nebraska

Neptune, New Jersey

Trenton, New Jersey

Albany, New York

Bronx, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Schenectady, New York

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Columbus, North Carolina

Dobson, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Rutherfordton, North Carolina

Saxapahaw, North Carolina

Bucyrus, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Franklin, Ohio

Mason, Ohio

Hulbert, Oklahoma

Jay, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Stilwell, Oklahoma

Grants Pass, Oregon

Portland, Oregon(9 reports)

Tangent, Oregon

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Greencastle, Pennsylvania

Hanover, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

West Grove, Pennsylvania

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Conway, South Carolina

Loris, South Carolina(2 reports)

Cleveland, Tennessee

Collinwood, Tennessee

Gainesboro, Tennessee

Lenoir City, Tennessee

Newport, Tennessee

Pocahontas, Tennessee

White House, Tennessee

Athens, Texas

Austin, Texas(2 reports)

Canadian, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Garland, Texas

Hempstead, Texas

Hereford, Texas

Kendalia, Texas

Killeen, Texas

Kyle, Texas

Manvel, Texas

Mc Kinney, Texas

Spring Branch, Texas

Salt Lake City, Utah

Urbanna, Virginia

Bainbridge Island, Washington

Cashmere, Washington

Fall City, Washington

Felida, Washington

Graham, Washington

Highland, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Falling Waters, West Virginia

Horner, West Virginia

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

35
positives
21
neutrals
15
negatives
Sort By:
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N
Queen Creek, AZ | June 2023 | positive

Before I moved into the Phoenix area three years ago, I heard of a tree called Paulownia. It was supposed to be fast-growing with beautif...Read More

M
M
Eola, OR | September 2021 | neutral

This plant appeared last year in my front yard, right alongside my house. I cut it down, but of course grew back because I didn’t remov...Read More

R
White House, TN | April 2021 | positive

I’ve been studying this tree since 1967. Analyzing Tennessee and Kentucky forests. Since 1967 I’ve been told by foresters, professo...Read More

N
Waterford, CT | October 2020 | positive

Highly invasive in the coastal northeast (zones 6b+). Great flowers, but chokes out native plants. I think this is now banned for sale in...Read More

A
A
Bella Vista, AR | September 2020 | negative

This is an invasive species and should not be planted!

N
Columbus, NC (Zone 7b) | September 2020 | neutral

Be careful with this tree!
It spreads seeds profusely so be alert for unwanted seedlings. Many consider it invasive.
As th...Read More

P
Cave Creek, AZ | April 2020 | neutral

Hello, i really need some help on my tree. I have a 35-40 ft. princess tree and it has never had a problem before but this year it’s ...Read More

P
Seattle, WA | March 2020 | negative

Be very careful when considering this tree. It grows EXTREMELY fast. Do not plant near house or any structures that you don't want mang...Read More

R
R
| February 2019 | positive

Paulownia is one of the fastest growing trees in the world, capable of growth rates of well over seven feet per year as a seedling! But w...Read More

M
Glenwood, MN (Zone 5a) | May 2017 | positive

I bought one of these tree's thinking it would never grow in our climate here in Helena, Montana. It was about 1 1/2 feet tall and in a b...Read More

T
Canadian, TX | July 2016 | positive

I love this tree! I need to know if I can put Preen Weed Preventer plus Plant Food around it?

M
| May 2016 | positive

I'm very excited, I just brought the seeds off eBay, I'm in Melbourne Australia and I have no experience with this tree but I am very exc...Read More

S
Stilwell, OK (Zone 7a) | January 2016 | neutral

Hmmm, starting to wonder if it was wise to plant these lol. I started 3 from seed, planted one, and it got about 3 feet tall with big le...Read More

M
Kyle, TX | June 2015 | positive

I have three Paulownia Tomentosa tree's growing in my yard, all of which I planted myself. The first one I planted when I found out my d...Read More

T
Lake Helen, FL | May 2015 | negative

This very invasive tree is in my neighbor's yard, (the house is for sale & the owner doesn't live there & is very nasty), right against m...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2015 | negative

The light lavender flowers don't show up well against blue sky.

This tree self-sows aggressively here in Massachusetts, th...Read More

W
W
Tonawanda, NY | February 2015 | neutral

For those of you who are unsure, Paulownia is native to North America. You may see the constant refrain that it is an invasive species fr...Read More

P
Shawnee, OK | September 2014 | neutral

I'm giving it a neutral rating ONLY because we have a lot of space (6 acres) with a lot of open countryside around and we lost a lot of o...Read More

D
Belzoni, MS | June 2014 | neutral

This past weekend, I planted two tiny 4" seedlings of this plant on my front yard. I've read that they are ugly limbless bean poles for a...Read More

R
Downingtown, PA | February 2014 | negative

Royal Paulownia is a very fast growing, about 3 feet/year, tree that is very messy with dead wood, falling twigs and branches and big flo...Read More

M
Eldersburg, MD | August 2013 | negative

HATE HATE HATE this tree! Limbs frequently break off. Leaves do not readily decompose. MUST have gutters covered with leaf guard. One l...Read More

F
Portland, OR | July 2013 | positive

This tree is magnificent. Every spring, for 7 years now I break off all but three growth points, and pinch out any branching that might ...Read More

G
Newport, TN (Zone 6b) | July 2013 | positive

In Korea fathers used to plant a paulownia or two when a daughter was born. Some years later, wedding gift furniture was made from the tr...Read More

S
El Paso, TX | May 2013 | negative

Does not like El Paso sand. This was an experiment, I am trying to only grow plants that can handle our sand since it is very difficult t...Read More

P
Dobson, NC | June 2012 | neutral

Let me tell you something that no one else has. During the second year, my Empress Tree formed flower buds on the ends of all it's branc...Read More

R
Harrison, OH | February 2012 | neutral

Walking on a trail on the south facing bluffs above Madison, Indiana(zone 7, zip 47250) on the Ohio River in November 2010 I came across ...Read More

C
Danielson, CT | August 2011 | positive

Appearantly, even though it may be listed as an invasive species, the royal empress is not invasvive in Connecticut, as I have been tryin...Read More

T
Asbury Lake, FL | July 2011 | positive

I grew one of those from a seed last year, cut it down to the ground this past march and now is 12 feet tall, just love it, i also heard ...Read More

S
Conyers, GA | July 2011 | positive

I BOUGHT THESE TREES {12 OF THEM} ON EBAY AS I WANTED SOME "QUICK GROWERS" TO GRACE BOTH SIDES OF MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD NO IDEA JUST HOW QU...Read More

C
Russell, KY (Zone 6b) | June 2011 | negative

Run, run, run away from this tree!

I had two ancient Paulownia tomentosas removed from the front yard of our new house in ...Read More

N
Rutherfordton, NC (Zone 7b) | April 2011 | neutral

I have had 5 volunteer in my yard, 2 from the roots of the first one when we cut it down to the ground. So it is invasive from the roots...Read More

R
Pikesville, MD (Zone 7a) | November 2010 | neutral

My botany professor introduced us to this plant as a specimen at the Philadelphia Zoo in the early 1960s. Then it was called 'Orientalis ...Read More

S
Oroville, CA | September 2010 | positive

I just bought 2 empress trees about 12' tall, trunks about 3 to 4 inches.They were hanging out the back of my truck about 4' and had abou...Read More

M
Saint Clair, MO | April 2010 | positive

Beautiful tree, grows well here in Missouri. Two big benefits, it grows quickly and provides great shade, the other is the leaves/blooms...Read More

V
Austin, TX | March 2010 | neutral

I originally ordered this plant on eBay, skeptical, but curious, about its growth. The first year it grew about 10 feet. The second year,...Read More

P
P
Milton, FL | October 2009 | positive

I bought and planted two seedling 18" high in late July with the temperature hovering around 95 - 100. The tree's are hanging on and the...Read More

P
Winnetka, IL | June 2009 | positive

I planted two Paulownias in raised trial beds two years ago. Out of curiosity, I caged one, filling the cage with leaves in the fall, an...Read More

T
San Jose, CA | May 2009 | positive

This looks like it will be an interesting, fairly unique tree. Now the Jacaranda will not be the only purple-flowered tree in the front yard.

F
Fall City, WA | March 2009 | positive

I purchased a starter at a library plant sale. After planting it, it was mowed over a couple of times but still ended up growing back the...Read More

P
Central, AL (Zone 8a) | February 2009 | negative

This tree is extremely invasive. Its windborne seeds invariably catch at building foundations. When the rapidly growing tree begins to de...Read More

F
Fair Oaks, CA | January 2009 | negative

I have given this tree a negative because of poor appearance as a mature tree. Our Paulownia tomentosa is about 7 years old. It grew to...Read More

C
| July 2008 | positive

For those of you that have experienced the invasive qualities of the Tomentosa I thought I would share with you an experience I have had ...Read More

O
Oklahoma City, OK | July 2008 | neutral

I live near in Choctaw Oklahoma and I am in need of shade trees in my pasture for my horses. There is an Empress tree at a house that I p...Read More

G
Graham, WA | June 2008 | negative

Not sure yet on this tree. Bought the first one and after the first winter all we had was a soggy bulb that had nothing left inside. Ha...Read More

C
Spokane, WA (Zone 5a) | May 2008 | neutral

Have had this tree in the ground for about 4-5 years now. I was told when I bought the tree that it would die down to the ground each ye...Read More

J
J
Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) | March 2008 | positive

I have a four year old empress tree. I received it as a one year old root cutting. The lady who gave me my tree told me that if I want ...Read More

R
Vancouver, WA | August 2007 | positive

We got a young tree, about 2.5' tall. Two seasons later it is about 18' tall and putting on massive growth on new branches. We were loo...Read More

D
Upton, KY | August 2007 | positive

Last year this large "weed" popped up under the edge of the front deck, so I chopped it down. A month later it was back, the leaves were...Read More

D
Mesa, AZ | June 2007 | neutral

I want to plant one of these at our new house and have questions. We live just outside of Phoenix zone 9 so I don't think it will be too...Read More

R
Hernando, FL (Zone 9b) | April 2007 | positive

I planted mine last year, near my dogs kennel to hopefully grow over and give him some shade. I have had flowers on it all year and bel...Read More

T
T
Lower Lake, CA | April 2007 | positive

I have about 40 Empress Trees growing right now. I cut down all to the ground except for two this spring. They are budding out good right...Read More

T
New Lenox, IL | March 2007 | positive

I just posted to another area about my Empress Trees.

I have 3. I'm not finding them invasive, but I’m in Illinois, it ...Read More

M
Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) | March 2007 | negative

Extreme Caution should be used before planting this tree anywhere in Florida. It could take over the world.

L
Central, AL (Zone 7b) | February 2007 | positive

Some has already mentioned that Empress trees are 'naturalized' in the SE. No wonder I've seen them along the interstate as I drove by. ...Read More

B
spokane valley, WA (Zone 5a) | January 2007 | positive

This has been a great landscape tree, it has not been invasive at all, and we have some VERY invasive, WEEDY plants here, mosty our own n...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | December 2006 | neutral

Empress Tree Paulownia tomentosa is naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive plant in Texas.

H
Colchester, CT | September 2006 | negative

This plant could be a poster child for invasives. I loved the big old monster in downtown New London, but when I talked to the neighbors ...Read More

R
Walkerton, VA (Zone 7a) | January 2006 | neutral

According to a recent article, one can plant these tress at 300 to the acre and harvest 30,000 board feet in 8-9 years. At $3.00 a board ...Read More

D
Igo, CA | January 2006 | neutral

In regards to invasiveness, a quote from the California Invasive Plants Council "...the empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a pest in d...Read More

S
Hughson, CA | November 2005 | positive

planted one in 1998. it is 40 feet tall. planted two more in 2003, now 16 feet tall. in california they do not reseed and do not set m...Read More

E
E
Tyler, TX | August 2005 | positive

I planted one Paulownia 3 months ago, it was 17" tall. It is now 6' 10" tall and going strong. I water it twice a week and every two week...Read More

C
Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) | May 2005 | negative

So far so good.

I found something HUGE growing in a bulb bed last year and it was identified as Empress Tree.

...Read More


Update on August 11, 2006:

I've changed my rating to a negative. I see these trees everywhere. We're putting in a pool and have a lot of disturbed earth and where there's disturbed earth, there's empress trees. I also keep finding them in the flower beds in the front of the house.

I haven't seen any on the property and I don't think my neighbors have any but they're getting here some how and I shudder to think how much worse it could be with a seeding tree right in the proximity.

S
S
(Zone 8b) | May 2005 | positive

A beautifull tree..In my neighbourhood there are growing ten Empress Trees in the public garden. They are all in bloom now..a wonderfull ...Read More

T
Oliver Springs, TN (Zone 6b) | May 2005 | positive

I found this tree growing along the creek in the wooded (& wild) portion of our property in Oliver Springs, TN. I had never seen it befo...Read More

H
Fox, AR | December 2004 | positive

My aunt had her land completely cleared for pasture land 5 years ago. Where it was cleared, a single royal empress tree sprouted up, most...Read More

3
3
| November 2004 | negative

Pretty, unusual, specimen tree in the Northeast... but arborist friends at the Arnold Arboretum warn of its invasive and weedy characteristics.

C
C
cft
Spring Branch, TX (Zone 8a) | June 2004 | neutral

I purchased two Paulownia tomentosa seedlings back in February from a local nursery here in the Texas Hill Country. One did not survive,...Read More

B
Valdosta, GA (Zone 8a) | June 2004 | positive

Easy to grow from seed and it is a fast grower.

I
| April 2004 | positive

I live in the Nashville, TN area way back in the woods and these trees grow like crazy along my driveway. A couple years ago we decided t...Read More

P
Acton, CA (Zone 8b) | December 2003 | neutral

This has to be one of the fastest trees I have ever had experience with. I got one as a 2' seedling and in 4 years it's almost 40' tall ...Read More

D
D
| May 2001 | neutral

This is a prolific seed producer, and sprouts easily, making it considered invasive in many parts of the world. The Chinese plant this t...Read More

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