Paulownia tomentosa, common names princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree, is a deciduous hardwood tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to central and eastern China and the Korean Peninsula. even though it might be able to successfully get established through seeds only under ideal conditions.
Etymology
right|frameless|150px|alt=Flowering tree
The generic name Paulownia honours Anna Pavlovna of Russia, who was Queen Consort of the Netherlands from 1840 to 1849. The specific epithet tomentosa is a Latin word meaning 'covered in hairs'.
Description
frameless|right|150px|alt=Flowers and young leaves
This tree grows tall, with large heart-shaped to five-lobed leaves across, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. On young growth, the leaves may be in whorls of three and be much bigger than the leaves on more mature growth. The leaves on stump shoots can achieve remarkable size; leaves wide and almost as long have been reported. The leaves can be mistaken for those of the catalpa.
The very fragrant flowers, large and violet-blue in colour are produced before the leaves in early spring, on panicles long, with a tubular purple corolla long resembling a foxglove flower. The fruit is a dry egg-shaped capsule long, containing numerous tiny seeds. The seeds are winged and disperse by wind and water. Pollarded trees do not produce flowers, as these form only on mature wood.
Paulownia tomentosa requires full sun for proper growth. It is tolerant of pollution and can tolerate many soil types. It can also grow from small cracks in pavements and walls. Paulownia can survive wildfires because the roots can regenerate new, very fast-growing stems.
P. tomentosa is drought-resistant and thrives in barren soil, particularly suitable for cold and arid regions. Its main trunk is short, and its growth rate is relatively slow after it reaches maturity.
Range
Native range
P. tomentosa is native to much of central and eastern China
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Introduced range
Europe
In August 2021 the EPPO added P. tomentosa to its Alert List, not due to any particular known problem within Europe, but as a step to begin assessing whether it should be regarded as a problematic invader.
Because of its tolerance and flexibility, Paulownia functions ecologically as a pioneer plant. Its nitrogen-rich leaves provide good fodder and its roots prevent soil erosion. Eventually, Paulownia is succeeded by taller trees that shade it and in whose shade it cannot thrive.
In Japan, it is customary to plant seeds of the tree when a couple has a daughter; it is said that by the time the daughter is in her older teens or at the peak of adulthood when she is ready to marry, the tree by this time has also grown to maturity, which is then felled and made into a tansu dresser as a wedding gift.
The timber is used in making instruments, as well.
P. tomentosa has been suggested as a plant to use in carbon capture projects. P. tomentosa has large leaves that readily absorb pollutants, and also has value in timber and aesthetics, adding to interest surrounding its use in carbon capture.
Inaccurate citation practices have led to circulating claims that P. tomentosa performs C<sub>4</sub> carbon fixation. However, this species does not fulfill the experimental criteria necessary to demonstrate C<sub>4</sub> photosynthesis.
Composition
Some geranyl flavonoids can be found in P. tomentosa. Verbascoside can also be produced in hairy roots cultures of P. tomentosa.
Pictures
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File:2014-05-17 08 51 56 Royal Empress Tree blossoms along Federal City Road in Ewing, New Jersey.JPG|alt=Flowers
File:PaulowniaTomentosaTrunk.jpg|alt=Trunk
File:Paulownia tomentosa bark 3.jpg|alt=Trunk bark
File:PaulowniaTomentosaFruit.jpg|alt=Fruit
File:PaulowniaTomentosaShell.jpg|Spent fruit
File:Paulownia tomentosa (6).JPG|alt=Leaf
File:Baden-Baden-Paulownia tomentosa-14-Blauglockenbaum-2020-gje.jpg|alt=Young tree
File:Baden-Baden-Paulownia tomentosa-40-Blauglockenbaum-Bluete-2012-gje.jpg|alt=Flowers
File:Paulownia sapling.jpg|alt=Sapling|New growth on freshly cut sapling
File:Paulownia tomentosa Paulownia puszysta 2018-09-02 02.jpg|Flower buds
File:PaulowniaTimber.JPG|Timber
File:Mature Foxglove Tree in Bute Park Cardiff, Wales, 2025.jpg|Image showing a Large Mature Foxglove Tree in flower on May 4, 2025 in Bute Park, Wales, UK. Human for scale.
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