Empress Tree, Foxglove Tree, Princess Tree (Paulownia imperialis)
The Empress Tree is a small to medium-sized tree with large leaves and striking blue foxglove-shaped flowers with a sweet, fruity scent. Young plants may be damaged by frost.
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Appearance
The Empress Tree is a small to medium-sized tree with large leaves and striking blue foxglove-shaped flowers with a sweet, fruity scent. Young plants may be damaged by frost.
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Spring
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Leaves
Ovate leaves, 15-30cm long, 10-20cm wide, leaf stem 10-20cm long. Leaves are bright green above, pale green below with a hairy matting.
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Leaf upperside
Ovate leaves, 15-30cm long, 10-20cm wide, leaf stem 10-20cm long. Leaves are bright green above, pale green below with a hairy matting.
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Leaf underside
Ovate leaves, 15-30cm long, 10-20cm wide, leaf stem 10-20cm long. Leaves are bright green above, pale green below with a hairy matting.
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Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, impressive blue corymbs up to 30cm long. Individual blossoms resemble fox-glove.
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Fruits
Ovate grey-brown capsules up to 4cm long. Persist for a long time, with numerous very small winged seeds.
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Bark
Grey or grey-green bark, brown in the furrows. With lenticels when young. Branches are green or grey-green.
Application
Parks, urban areas, car parks, pedestrian precincts, espalier, gardens, verandas, winter gardens, for amateur gardeners
Native regions
Eastern Asia, China, Manchuria, Southern China
Location parameters
Light: full sun, temperature: warm, soil: moist, stagnant moisture: to be avoided. soil structure: normal to loose, soil depth: deep, humus concentration: medium, soil quality: medium, pH value: 6.0 to 8.5, nutrient concentration: normal to high
Demands
Requires a sunny, sheltered location and deep, well-aired soil. Resistant to urban climates
Growth
Height of growth: 12m to 20m, spread: 12m to 20m, growth habits: firm, wide, rounded, loose, irregular, spreading, often grow askew
Leaves
Ovate leaves, 15-30cm long, 10-20cm wide, leaf stem 10-20cm long. Leaves are bright green above, pale green below with a hairy matting.
Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, impressive blue corymbs up to 30cm long. Individual blossoms resemble fox-glove.
Fruits
Ovate grey-brown capsules up to 4cm long. Persist for a long time, with numerous very small winged seeds.
Bark
Grey or grey-green bark, brown in the furrows. With lenticels when young. Branches are green or grey-green.
Roots
Taprooter, fleshy roots