Everything about Empress Tree totally explained
Paulownia tomentosa (also known as the
Empress Tree,
Princess Tree or
Foxglove Tree;
pao tong in Chinese;
kiri in Japanese) is a
deciduous tree in the genus
Paulownia, native to central and western
China, but invasive in the US
(External Link
)(External Link)(External Link). It grows to 10-25 m tall, with large heart-shaped to five-lobed
leaves 15-40 cm across, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. On young growth, the leaves may be in whorls of three and be much bigger than the leaves on more mature growth (
image comparing large and small trees). The characteristic large size of the young growth is exploited by gardeners : by
pollarding the tree and ensuring there's vigorous new growth every year, massive leaves are produced (up to 60cm across). These are popular in the modern style of gardening which uses large-foliaged and "architectural" plants.
The
flowers are produced before the leaves in early spring, on panicles 10-30 cm long, with a tubular purple
corolla 4-6 cm long resembling a
foxglove flower. The
fruit is a dry egg-shaped capsule 3-4 cm long, containing numerous tiny
seeds. The seeds are winged and disperse by wind and water. Pollarded trees don't produce flowers, as these only form on mature wood.
Paulownia tomentosa can survive
wildfire because the
roots can regenerate new, very fast-growing stems. It is tolerant of pollution and it isn't fussy about soil type. For this reason it functions ecologically as a pioneer plant. Its nitrogen-rich leaves provide good fodder and its roots prevent soil erosion. Eventually,
Paulownia is succeeded by taller trees that shade it. It can't thrive in the shade of other trees.
In China, an old custom is to plant an Empress Tree when a baby girl is born. The fast-growing tree matures when she does. When she's eligible for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden articles for her
dowry. Carving the wood of
Paulownia is an art form in Japan and China. In legend, it's said that the
Phoenix will only land on the Empress Tree and only when a good ruler is in power. Several Asian string instruments are made from
P. tomentosa, including the Japanese
koto and Korean
gayageum zithers.
The soft, lightweight
seeds were commonly used as a packing material by Chinese
porcelain exporters in the
19th century, before the development of
polystyrene packaging. Packing cases would often leak or burst open in transit and scatter the seeds along
rail tracks. This, together with seeds released by specimens deliberately planted for ornament, has allowed the species to become an
invasive weed tree in areas where the climate is suitable for its growth, notably
Japan and the eastern
United States.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Empress Tree'.
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