Princess Tree or Empress Tree

Caution: Invasief!
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General characteristics of a Princess Tree or Empress Tree

The Princess tree is a fast-growing deciduous tree that can reach a height of 15-20 meters. It has a broad, open crown and large, heart-shaped leaves that can reach 30 cm in diameter. In spring, the tree produces beautiful, bell-shaped, purple flowers that are attractive to bees and other insects.

The Paulownia is popular in landscaping for its beautiful blooms and shady properties.

Characteristics


How to plant a Princess Tree or Empress Tree

In full sun (make sure the tree gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and flowering). The tree prefers nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. It doesn't tolerate waterlogging well.

How to harvest a Princess Tree or Empress Tree

The trees usually come from growers.

Caring for and pruning your Princess Tree or Empress Tree

Pruning is not strictly necessary. However, dead branches can be removed for the health and shape of the tree.

Where does a Princess Tree or Empress Tree grow

The tree grows best in well-drained soil and full sun. It is fairly tolerant of various soil types, but does require adequate water, especially in the early years.


General

Origin
Alien
Invasive
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 8 Up to Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 15 Up to 40 year
Maximum Age Up to 50 year
Required Space 20 Up to 30m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
Makes root suckers
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter February tot March
Leaf Shapes Heart-shaped
Easy to prune Yes

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Opposite
Bud Shape
Egg-shaped

Other

Root
Deeply rooted
Bloom
Has flowers
Wind sensitivity Moderately sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Not particularly susceptible to any specific disease

Harvest/recognition in winter

The bark of the tree is light gray and has a smooth texture, which can sometimes flake. The buds are large, brown, and oval.

Light requirement of the Princess Tree or Empress Tree

The Princess Tree or Empress Tree thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun

    • Suitable soil types for the Princess Tree or Empress Tree

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Princess Tree or Empress Tree to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Princess Tree or Empress Tree

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Princess Tree or Empress Tree in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Princess Tree or Empress Tree

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Princess Tree or Empress Tree like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant?
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer April Up to June

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with
    Fruitboom (overig)

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Horse
    Human
    Roe deer
    Deer
    Pig
    Herbivorous rodents
    Squirrel
    Goat
    Ferret
    Badgers
    Beavers
    Dog
    Cat
    Chicken
    Cow
    Sheep
    Foxes
    Wild boar
    Mouse
    Bats

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Princess Tree or Empress Tree looks like

    A mature princess tree
    Princess tree in winter

    This is what the fruits of a Princess Tree or Empress Tree look like

    Fruit of the princess tree

    This is what a Princess Tree or Empress Tree in bloom looks like

    Princess tree in bloom
    Princess tree in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a Princess Tree or Empress Tree looks like

    Leaf of the princess tree