Foxglove tree
Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud.
Also known as: Empress tree, Princess tree
Family: Paulowniaceae
10 to 20 m tall
Planted as a specimen in parks for its giant foliage and spring flowering
Flowering: April – May
Full sun
Hardy to about -20°C, the flower buds may freeze in some winters
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Cut back to ground level every year, this same tree produces giant leaves sometimes more than 50 cm across, a technique used to create a spectacular tropical effect.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, very large, heart-shaped, can exceed 30 cm, downy to the touch
🌸 Flowers
Large fragrant mauve bells, held upright in large panicles, appearing before or with the leaves
🍎 Fruits
Ovoid brown woody capsule, persisting all winter
🪵 Bark
Grey, smooth then slightly fissured
🗺️ Distribution
Native to China, introduced to Europe in the 19th century
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very nectar-rich flowers, appreciated by bees in spring
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted for its spectacular tropical foliage and fragrant flowering; sometimes cut back hard every year to maximise leaf size
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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