Paulownia tomentosa
“Empress Tree”

Looking like a tree from the pages of a Chinese fairy tale, the rare, easy & amazingly fast growing Empress tree stopped me in my tracks one Spring day at U.C. Botanical Garden. Large, fragrant, lavender-blue, foxglove-like flowers are borne in upright terminal clusters on this large, spreading tree before leaves emerge, presenting a picture of unreal beauty. Later, large apple-green, fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves appear, giving a tropical look. “Empress Tree” thrives in the Bay Area. Grows 10’ the first year & up to 40’.  Happily - if you don’t want a huge tree - YOU CAN KEEP IT PRUNED SHORT AS A SHRUB - where you can enjoy its fabulous blooms & huge, very tropical leaves. VERY FROST HARDY!  Fertile soil is best.

**Due to agricultural restrictions, we cannot ship this plant to CT or WI.

Annie