In short
- One of the fastest-growing trees — young plants can add over 2 m a year.
- Violet, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers open in spring before the leaves.
- Huge leaves cast deep shade and drop a lot of litter.
- Self-seeds freely and behaves invasively in places — plant with care.
- A valuable, abundant nectar plant for bees.
Botanical data
- Family
- Paulowniaceae (Paulowniaceae)
- Height
- 10–15 m
- Width
- 6–12 m
- Habit
- Spreading
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Position
- Full sun
- Soil
- Loamy, Sandy, Humus-rich
- pH reaction
- pH 5.5–7.5
- Moisture
- Moderate
- Bloom
- April–May
- Hardiness
- USDA 5a–9b
- Propagation
- From seed, From cuttings
Characteristics
A tree with a broad, spreading crown and thick, soft shoots. The leaves are very large (over 40 cm on young specimens), heart-shaped and hairy (tomentosa means felted). The flowers resemble foxgloves: violet, bell-shaped, in upright panicles and strongly fragrant. The fruit is an egg-shaped capsule with thousands of tiny, winged seeds.
Growing and care
Watering
Young, fast-growing specimens with huge leaves transpire heavily and need regular watering. Older trees tolerate drought better.
Fertilizing
Moderately; excess nitrogen gives lush but less woody, less frost-hardy growth.
Planting
Deep, fertile and free-draining site in full sun, sheltered from strong wind that tears the large leaves.
Pruning calendar
Pruning group: Shrubs rejuvenated each spring (for ornamental stems/foliage)
What and how to cut
In early spring, before growth starts, cut last year's shoots low over the woody base (stubs of 2–3 buds); feed the plant after cutting. Do this only to plants that are already established (usually from the 2nd–3rd year after planting) — do not cut freshly planted ones this hard; let them root well first.
In early spring.
What not to do
Don't do this to plants prized for their flowers on old wood — you will lose the flowering.
Companion plants
Good companions
Planted as a specimen in the open, it shows its habit and flowering best, and the huge fallen leaves are easy to clear here.
Bad companions
The dense shade of the huge leaves, greedy roots and a thick layer of fallen leaves suppress smaller plants directly under the paulownia.
The evidence level indicates whether the relationship is backed by research, observation, or gardening tradition.
Toxicity
| For whom | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | None | — |
| Dogs | Mild | — |
| Cats | Mild | — |
History and origin
The genus was named after Anna Pavlovna, daughter of Tsar Paul I. It was brought to Europe in the 19th century as an ornamental and useful tree, also valued for its light, fast-growing timber. In North America and parts of Europe it is regarded as invasive.
Uses
Planted as a specimen in large gardens and parks for its showy flowers and exotic habit. It is sometimes coppiced to produce giant leaves for subtropical-style plantings. Because of its invasiveness, avoid planting it near natural areas.
Trivia
- Paulownia seeds were once used as a shock-absorbing packing material for shipping Chinese porcelain.
- The timber is very light, dimensionally stable and highly prized in Japan (kiri) for chests and instruments.
Frequently asked questions
How fast does paulownia grow?
It is one of the fastest-growing temperate trees — young, well-watered specimens can add 2–4 m in a season. The pace slows with age, as the tree begins to flower and fruit.
Is paulownia invasive?
It can be. It produces huge quantities of light, winged seeds that spread easily and germinate on disturbed ground. In many regions caution is advised and planting near natural habitats is discouraged.
Why is my paulownia not flowering?
Usually a matter of age and frosted buds. The flower buds form in autumn and overwinter — in colder zones a hard winter can destroy them. Annual hard coppicing also removes flowering in favour of large leaves.
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)Database (GBIF, POWO…)
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium — Paulownia tomentosaDatabase (GBIF, POWO…)
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