{{Short description|Species of deciduous tree classified in its own family}} {{Speciesbox | name = Princess tree | image = Paulownia tomentosa JPG2a.jpg | image_caption = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |last1=Oldfield |first1=S. |last2=Son |first2=S.-W. |last3=Kim |first3=H. |year=2024 |title=''Paulownia tomentosa'' |volume=2024 |article-number=e.T61954083A61954085 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T61954083A61954085.en |access-date=31 October 2025}}</ref> | taxon = Paulownia tomentosa | authority = (Thunb.) Steud. }}
'''''Paulownia tomentosa''''', common names '''princess tree''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=PATO2|taxon=Paulownia tomentosa|access-date=31 January 2016}}</ref> '''empress tree''', or '''foxglove-tree''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }}</ref> is a deciduous hardwood tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to central and eastern China and the Korean Peninsula.<ref name=FoC/><ref name="EPPO-alert" /> It is an extremely fast-growing tree with seeds that disperse readily<ref name="tsusinvasives.org"/> and is considered an invasive exotic species in North America<ref name=USDA/> that has undergone naturalisation in large areas of the Eastern US,<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Paulownia tomentosa'' Seeds|url=https://www.seedaholic.com/paulownia-tomentosa-foxglove-tree.html|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.seedaholic.com}}</ref> even though it might be able to successfully get established through seeds only under ideal conditions.<ref name="worldtree"/> ''P. tomentosa'' has also been introduced to Western and Central Europe, and is establishing itself as a naturalised species there as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alienplantsbelgium.be/content/paulownia-tomentosa|title=''Paulownia tomentosa'' {{!}} Manual of the Alien Plants of Belgium|website=alienplantsbelgium.be|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oxford University Plants 400: ''Paulownia tomentosa''|url=https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/OP/Paulownia|access-date=2020-07-01|website=herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk}}</ref>
==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.<ref name=AZPLA>{{cite book|last=Coombes|first=Allen J.|title=The A to Z of plant names|year=2012|publisher=Timber Press|location=USA|isbn=9781604691962|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781604691962/page/312 312]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781604691962/page/312}}</ref> The specific epithet ''tomentosa'' is a Latin word meaning 'covered in hairs'.<ref name=RHSLG>{{cite book|last=Harrison|first=Lorraine|title=RHS Latin for gardeners|year=2012|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=9781845337315|pages=224}}</ref>
==Description== frameless|right|150px|alt=Flowers and young leaves
This tree grows {{convert|10|-|25|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall, with large heart-shaped to five-lobed leaves {{convert|15|-|40|cm|0|abbr=on}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/pato2.htm#Whole%20tree |title=image comparing large and small trees |access-date=2006-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204042457/http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/pato2.htm#Whole%20tree |archive-date=2012-02-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The leaves on stump shoots can achieve remarkable size; leaves {{convert|98|cm}} wide and almost as long have been reported.<ref>{{cite journal | last= Prouty | first= W.F. | date= August 26, 1921 |title= A More Phenomenal Shoot | journal= Science | volume= 54 | issue= 1391 | page= 170 }}</ref> The leaves can be mistaken for those of the catalpa.
The very fragrant flowers, large and violet-blue in colour<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fitter|first1=Alastair|title=Trees|last2=More|publisher=[CollinsGem]|year=2012|isbn=978-0-00-718306-7}}</ref> are produced before the leaves in early spring, on panicles {{convert|10–30|cm|in|0}} long, with a tubular purple corolla {{convert|4–6|cm|in|frac=4}} long resembling a foxglove flower. The fruit is a dry egg-shaped capsule {{convert|3–4|cm|in|frac=8}} 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.<ref name=Tennessee>{{citation | url = https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1465.pdf | title = Tree Crops for Marginal Farmland: ''Paulownia'', With a Financial Analysis (PB1465) | first1 = Wayne K. | last1 = Clatterbuck | first2 = Donald G. | last2 = Hodges | publisher = The University of Tennessee | year = 2004 | page = 8 | access-date = 2019-12-21 | archive-date = 2022-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221203230425/https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1465.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=Silvics>{{cite book | chapter = Royal Paulownia | first = F. T. | last = Bonner | chapter-url = https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/paulownia/tomentosa.htm | title = Agriculture Handbook 654: Silvics of North America | volume = 2: Hardwoods | editor1-first = Russell M. | editor1-last = Burns | editor2-first = Barbara H. | editor2-last = Honkala | publisher = Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture | location = Washington, DC | date = December 1990 }}</ref> It is tolerant of pollution and can tolerate many soil types{{specify|date=March 2025}}{{disputed inline|date=March 2025}}. It can also grow from small cracks in pavements and walls.{{original research inline|date=March 2025}} ''Paulownia'' can survive wildfires because the roots can regenerate new, very fast-growing stems.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}{{disputed inline|date=March 2025}}
''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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.iplant.cn/info/Paulownia%20tomentosa?t=z |title=中国植物志 |publisher=科学出版社 |year=1979 |isbn= |volume=67(2) |pages=33–35 |language=zh |trans-title=Flora of China}}</ref>
==Range==
===Native range=== ''P. tomentosa'' is native to much of central and eastern China<ref name=FoC/><ref name="EPPO-alert" /> and to the Korean peninsula;<ref name="EPPO-alert" /> the Flora of China considers the latter as non-native.<ref name=FoC/> In China, it occurs in the following provinces: Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan.<ref name=FoC/><ref name="EPPO-alert">{{cite web | title=''Paulownia tomentosa'' | website=EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) | url=http://www.eppo.int/ACTIVITIES/plant_quarantine/alert_list_plants/paulownia_tomentosa | access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref> right|frameless
===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.<ref name="EPPO-alert" /> * Austria, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, France (including Corsica), Germany, Hungary, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
====Africa==== * South Africa
====North America==== =====United States===== * Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
====Oceania==== * New Zealand
====Asian introduced range==== * Japan
==Uses== ''Paulownia tomentosa'' is cultivated as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Paulownia tomentosa''|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/21410/Paulownia-tomentosa/Details | access-date = 16 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 72 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 21 April 2018}}</ref>
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.<ref name=Tennessee /><ref name=Silvics />
The characteristic large size of the young growth is exploited by gardeners: by pollarding the tree and ensuring there is vigorous new growth every year, massive leaves are produced (up to {{convert|60|cm|in|0}} across). These are popular in the modern style of gardening which uses large-foliaged and "architectural" plants.
The soft, lightweight seeds were commonly used as a packing material by Chinese porcelain exporters in the 19th century, before the development of polystyrene packaging. Packing cases would often leak or burst open in transit and scatter the seeds along rail tracks. The magnitude of the numbers of seeds used for packaging, together with seeds deliberately planted for ornament, has allowed the species to be viewed as an invasive species in areas where the climate is suitable for its growth, notably Japan and the eastern United States.<ref>{{cite web | title=Princess tree | work=Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group Least Wanted | url=http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629140139/http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pato1.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 29, 2012 | author=Tom Remaley | date=2006-06-27}}</ref>
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.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The timber is used in making instruments, as well.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}{{clarification needed|musical, laboratory, medical?|date=June 2024}}
''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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-05|title=Paulownia tomentosa: the miracle tree?|url=https://thundersaidenergy.com/2020/11/05/paulownia-tomentosa-the-miracle-tree/|access-date=2022-02-14|publisher=Thunder Said Energy|language=en-US}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=March 2025}}<ref>Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Green Energy Conversion. [https://books.google.com.om/books?id=0UgvEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA382&dq=%22Paulownia+tomentosa%22%2B%22carbon%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLt9z_h46MAxUoT6QEHeeRGJIQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=%22Paulownia%20tomentosa%22%2B%22carbon%22&f=false Page 382]"And among the solutions often mentioned, there is reforestation, the idea is to plant green curtains around the plant (trees that store carbon) to offset our CO2 emissions. We note for example : Paulownia Tomentosa, Bamboo, Iroko ...".</ref><ref>Climate Crisis Changed: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. [https://books.google.com.om/books?id=byr5EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=%22year+,+but+a+single+hectare+of+these+trees%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPk9Tii46MAxWRRKQEHVn7LZoQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q=%22year%20%2C%20but%20a%20single%20hectare%20of%20these%20trees%22&f=false Page 4] "...And the fast-growing Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) not only grows ten to twenty feet tall in its first year, but a single hectare of these trees can sequester up to 103 tons of CO - yr - 1 due to photosynthesis"</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Young |first1=Sophie N. R. |last2=Lundgren |first2=Marjorie R. |title=C<sub>4</sub> photosynthesis in ''Paulownia''? A case of inaccurate citations |journal=Plants, People, Planet |date=2023 |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=292–303 |doi=10.1002/ppp3.10343|doi-access=free |bibcode=2023PlPP....5..292Y }}</ref>
==Composition== Some geranyl flavonoids can be found in ''P. tomentosa''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Šmejkal |first1=Karel |last2=Grycová |first2=Lenka |last3=Marek |first3=Radek |last4=Lemière |first4=Filip |last5=Jankovská |first5=Dagmar |last6=Forejtníková |first6=Hana |last7=Vančo |first7=Ján |last8=Suchý |first8=Václav |title=C-geranyl compounds from ''Paulownia tomentosa'' fruits |journal=Journal of Natural Products |date=2007 |volume=70 |issue=8 |pages=1244–1248 |doi=10.1021/np070063w |pmid=17625893|bibcode=2007JNAtP..70.1244S }}</ref> Verbascoside can also be produced in hairy roots cultures of ''P. tomentosa''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wysokiińska |first1=H. |last2=Rózga |first2=M. |title=Establishment of transformed root cultures of ''Paulownia tomentosa'' for verbascoside production |journal=Journal of Plant Physiology |date=1998 |volume=152 |issue=1 |pages=78–83 |doi=10.1016/S0176-1617(98)80105-3|bibcode=1998JPPhy.152...78W }}</ref>
==Pictures== <gallery> 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. </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=FoC>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200020800 |title=''Paulownia tomentosa'' (Thunberg) Steudel, Nomencl. Bot. 2: 278. 1841 |author= |name-list-style=amp |work=Flora of China |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="tsusinvasives.org">{{cite web |url=https://tsusinvasives.org/home/database/paulownia-tomentosa |title=Princess Tree / Empress Tree |author= |date=2014 |publisher=Texas Invasive Species Institute |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>
<ref name=USDA>{{cite web |url=https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/princess-tree |title=Princess Tree |author=National Invasive Species Information Center |date= |work=Terrestrial Invasives |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528124823/https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/princess-tree |archive-date=28 May 2024 }}</ref>
<ref name="worldtree">{{cite web |url=https://worldtree.eco/paulownia-and-invasiveness/ |title=Empress Splendor trees and Invasiveness |author= |date=23 March 2021 |publisher=worldtree |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Commons}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q157393}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Paulowniaceae Category:Trees of China Category:Trees of Korea Category:Naturalized trees of Alabama Category:Taxa named by Carl Peter Thunberg Category:Plants described in 1784