Empress Tree Paulownia fortunei
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Empress Tree:
- Phonetic Spelling
- pa-LOH-nee-a for-TOO-nee-eye
- Description
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Dragontree is a fast-growing deciduous flowering tree native to China and Taiwan and has naturalized in parts of the USA including all areas of NC. It can grow up to 20 feet a year when young maturing at 50-75 feet tall. In spring it blooms with many clusters of large tubular flowers before leaf-out. The heart-shaped leaves are large up to 9 inches long.
This tree is used as an ornamental tree and also grown for timber. In Asia, it has been used to help remove heavy metals in contaminated soils, to decrease air pollution and for reforestization.
Dragon Tree is adaptable to soil types as long as they are well-drained and prefers full sun. It is susceptible to root rot in wet soils. It can be used as a shade tree in yards and parks or as a street tree. See the recommended native trees on the left side of the screen.
The University of Florida states it has a high potential for invasiveness and does not recommend planting.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Paulownia
- Species:
- fortunei
- Family:
- Paulowniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Strong lightweight wood used as lumber, for musical instruments, surfboards and other uses.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees
- Edibility:
- Flowers can be added to a salad
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Oval capsule, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, filled with numerous (1,000s) small seeds; capsules initially sticky and green, later turning brown and dry, persistent.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- upright clusters of fragrant 1-3 inch long tubular creamy white to pale lavender flowers with a purple throat in mid-spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 5-9 inch long heart-shaped leaves are velvety green above with paler undersides. In tropical climates will be evergreen.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- Thin, grayish brown with shallow fissures.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Stout, light brown stems with numerous light lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
