Princess Tree
Paulownia tomentosa
A fast-growing deciduous tree featuring large, heart-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs on stout stems.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate water needs; water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry. Highly drought-tolerant once established.
- Growth
- Deciduous tree with an upright, spreading canopy, reaching mature heights of 30 to 50 feet with an equally broad spread, exhibiting extremely rapid growth rates
Care instructions
Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Water regularly during establishment, but mature trees tolerate periods of drought. Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring if growth is slow.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate water needs; water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry. Highly drought-tolerant once established.
Soil
Adapts to a wide range of well-drained soils, preferring sandy loams with a neutral to slightly acidic pH
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 5 through 9
Growth habit
Deciduous tree with an upright, spreading canopy, reaching mature heights of 30 to 50 feet with an equally broad spread, exhibiting extremely rapid growth rates
Bloom season
Spring, producing large clusters of fragrant, tubular, pale violet to purple flowers before the leaves fully emerge
Propagation
Propagated easily through root cuttings, seeds, or dormant hardwood cuttings taken in winter
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, though susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spots, and wood-boring insects under stress
Similar species
Catalpa species, which can be distinguished by whorled leaf arrangements and long, slender seed pods rather than oval capsules