Empress Tree

Scientific Name: Paulownia tomentosa

Category: tree

Empress Tree

Brief Description

A fast-growing deciduous tree known for its massive leaves and showy purple flower clusters.

Characteristics

Extremely large, heart-shaped or slightly lobed leaves that are soft and fuzzy to the touch. Young saplings can have leaves over a foot wide. Stems are hollow and the bark is grey-brown.

Habitat

Disturbed areas, roadsides, forest edges, and urban gardens where it often escapes cultivation.

When to Find It

Flowers bloom in early spring before leaves emerge; seeds persist through winter in woody capsules.

Conservation Status

Invasive / Least Concern

Ecological Role

Highly invasive in North America, it outcompetes native vegetation due to its rapid growth rate and prolific seed production.

Easily Confused With

Catalpa species, which have similar large leaves but their leaves are usually whorled and the pods are long and bean-like rather than egg-shaped capsules.

Observation Tips

Look for it in disturbed urban soils or along highways. Avoid planting it in home gardens as it spreads aggressively.

Interesting Facts

A single tree can produce up to twenty million tiny winged seeds a year. It is one of the fastest-growing trees in the world, capable of growing over 10 feet in its first year.