Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

Empress Tree – Fast-Growing Tree with Giant Leaves and Fragrant Flowers

Paulownia tomentosa, known as Empress Tree, Princess Tree, or Foxglove Tree, is a deciduous tree native to China. It is renowned for its extremely rapid growth, huge, heart-shaped leaves (up to 2 feet across), and showy, fragrant, lavender-purple, foxglove-like flowers in spring before leaf-out. The woody seed capsules persist through winter. While valued for timber and ornament, it is considered invasive in parts of North America due to prolific seeding and rapid spread.

Taxonomic Details