Bill Johnson

Princess Tree

Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud.
Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

Origin: Central and Western China

Background
Also known as empress tree or royal paulownia, it was imported to Europe by the Dutch East India Company in the 1830s and to North America soon after. Historical records describe important medicinal, ornamental and timber uses of Princess tree as early as the 3rd century B.C. Its ability to sprout prolifically from adventitious buds on stems and roots allows it to survive fire, cutting and even bulldozing in construction areas. It is highly prized for carving.

Distribution and Habitat
Princess tree occurs throughout much of the eastern United States from Texas to New England where it can be found growing along roadsides, stream banks and forest edges. It tolerates infertile and acid soils and drought conditions and adapts to a wide variety of habitats.

Ecological Threat
Princess tree invades forests, stream banks and some rocky habitats, displacing native plant species.

Description and Biology

• Plant: medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to 30-60 ft. in height; twigs are stout, green to brown, and have many lenticels; bark is thin, gray-brown with shallow features.
• Leaves: paired, large, hairy on upper surfaces, broadly oval to heart-shaped and sometimes shallowly three-lobed.
• Flowers, fruits and seeds: flowers are showy, pale violet and fragrant and produced in conspicuous upright clusters in spring before the leaves appear; fruit is a four-compartmented oval capsule containing thousands of small winged seeds; capsules green, becoming brown and dry as they mature and persist through the winter.
• Spreads: by seed which is abundant and easily transported long distances by wind and water; a single tree is estimated to produce twenty million seeds; seeds germinate easily in suitable soil; seedlings grow and mature quickly, producing flowers within 8-10 years.

James H. Miller, USDA FS

Prevention and Control
Do not plant princess tree. Young plants can be pulled by hand; cut larger trees at ground level with power or manual saw, preferably prior to seed formation to prevent further spread. Systemic herbicides containing glyphosate or triclopyr are effective and can be applied to cut stumps or to bark (see Control Options).