Super Fitness Health BlogThe Empress Tree – Paulownia Imperalis
If you want a quick growing shade tree and also a flowering tree, plant the Paulownia Imperalis, named for the Queen of the Netherlands. It is beautiful with heart shaped leaves, bearing panicles of violet colored flowers at the end of every limb, usually in May. The flowers attract bees and hummingbirds. When the little birds go into the flowers to sip the nectar they are completely hidden.
Some clip the ends of limbs in early spring to cause the tree to bunch, but this prevents it blooming. When the tree is allowed to flower and seed, the pods are very ornamental, resembling an unopened cotton boll. When mature it bursts open in half showing a corklike core to which the tiny downy covered seed cling. When these are fully dry, they are soon “gone with the wind.” Only once have we had a good crop of self-sown seedlings. These were several hundred feet away, and weather conditions good for germination. Therefore the Paulownia Imperalis does not become a pest as some of the flowering trees do. The dry seed pods may be used for winter decorations and are very attractive silvered, enameled, bronzed for bouquets or patio strings.
The leaves fall soon after the first frost, and then you may see on the end of each limb the panicles of buds pointing upward ready to burst into bloom at the proper season.
If we could have only one tree for shade, I would choose the Paulownia. The beautiful foliage and flowers, quick growth, and hardiness to below zero temperature, and sudden weather changes, are only some of its good qualities. They are ideal for home, roadside, or park planting and in a few years from date of setting you have a lovely tree, or grove.
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