Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud.

Princess Tree; Empress Tree

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Princess Tree is an introduced deciduous tree in the Paulownia family (Paulowniaceae). It is native to China. In Alabama it can be found statewide, but is most common in northern Alabama. Princess Tree is cultivated as an ornamental and has been planted for erosion control and to reclaim strip mined areas. It aggressively invades disturbed areas such as clear cuts, roadsides, urban forests, and stream corridors. Princess Tree is a medium to large tree reaching heights of 30-80 feet. The bark is thin, grayish brown in color, and flakes in small, irregular pieces. Young stems have prominent white lenticels. The large leaves are petiolate, opposite (rarely whorled) in arrangement, ovate in outline, entire, cordate at the base, and pubescent on both surfaces. Leaves on sprouts may be up to 3 feet in length. Flowers are produced in large, erect, terminal panicles. The flowers open before the leaves appear. Individual flowers have a leathery calyx with 5 lobes about as long as the tube. The corolla is tubular, light purple in color, and fragrant. The fruit is a large woody capsule with many small, winged seed. Princess Tree is listed as a Category 2 invasive species by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council.—A. Diamond

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Not Native FACU (NWPL)

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