Paulownia tomentosa

Paulownia tomentosa, commonly known as the Princess Tree, Empress Tree, or Foxglove Tree, is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to central and western China. It's admired for its large, heart-shaped leaves and lavender, foxglove-like flowers, but it's also controversial due to its invasive potential in some regions.

Basic Information

• Scientific name: Paulownia tomentosa

• Family: Paulowniaceae

• Common names: Princess Tree, Empress Tree, Foxglove Tree

• Origin: Native to China; naturalized and invasive in parts of the U.S. and Europe

• Height: 10–25 m (30–80 ft)

• Growth rate: Very fast (can grow 3–5 m or more per year)

Key Characteristics

Feature Description Leaves: Large (15–40 cm), heart-shaped, soft, and fuzzy (tomentose)

Flowers: Purple-lavender, tubular, fragrant, bloom in early spring before leaves emerge

Fruits: Woody brown capsules containing thousands of tiny winged seeds

Bark: Gray-brown and smooth in young trees, becoming fissured with age

Wood: Lightweight, soft, and fast-drying — used in furniture and musical instruments

Ecological and Environmental Aspects

• Soil Tolerance: Grows in poor, compacted, and disturbed soils

• Light: Prefers full sun

• Invasiveness:

  U.S.: Considered invasive in many states, especially in the East

  Traits: Spreads rapidly by seed and root sprouts, outcompetes native vegetation

Uses

• Timber: Valued in Asia (especially Japan) for its straight grain and lightness

• Ornamental: Grown for its striking spring flowers and large leaves

• Carbon Sequestration: Promoted for reforestation and fast biomass accumulation

Controversies

• In many non-native regions, it's considered invasive because: It colonizes disturbed areas quickly, It displaces native plants, Its wood is weak and can break easily in storms