*Paulownia tomentosa (Thunberg) Siebold & Zuccarini ex Steudel. Common name: Princess Tree, Empress Tree, Paulownia. Phenology: Apr-Jun; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas, roadcuts, forests. Distribution: Native of China.
ID notes: The leaves of stump sprouts can reach very large sizes (at least to 80 cm long and wide). The woody capsules are persistent, and the densely tomentose, tan flower buds are conspicuous through the winter.
Origin/Endemic status: E. and se. Asia
Other Comments: Paulownia has become a nuisance, showing an ability to invade pristine woodlands. The very soft wood is highly prized in Asia.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl6, FNA17, G, Il, Mo3, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV; Bignonia tomentosa Thunberg. Basionym: Bignonia tomentosa Thunb. 1783
Links to other floras: = Paulownia tomentosa - FNA17
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
- Great Plains: UPL
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro:
Stems: Pith chambered or hollow. Young twigs (1-year-old or less) brown or tan, pubescent. Twigs (2-4 years old) glabrous or pubescent. Leaf scars oval or round, bundle scars numerous, stipule scars absent. Bark of mature trunks furrowed. Buds axillary or superposed, tan, ellipsoid, blunt, pubescent, tomentose, bud scales imbricate.
Leaves: Leaves deciduous, simple, petiolate, opposite, 15-30(-80) cm long, (8-)15-30(-80) cm wide, cordate or ovate, leaf margins entire, unlobed or shallowly lobed, palmately lobed, leaf apices acuminate, leaf bases cordate. Leaf upper surface green, pubescent, tomentose. Leaf lower surface green, pubescent, stellate or tomentose. Leaf venation palmate or pinnate. Petioles 10-20 cm long, glabrate or pubescent. Stipules absent.
Inforescence: Inflorescences axillary or terminal, panicles, flowers stalked.
Flowers: Flowers bisexual, hypogynous. Perianth. Calyx radially symmetric, synsepalous. Sepals 5 per flower, calyx tubes 8-15 mm long, tan, sepal apices obtuse, pubescent. Corolla bilaterally symmetric, tubular, sympetalous. Petals 5 per flower, corolla tubes 50-60 mm long, reflexed or spreading or ascending, purple or violet, petal apices rounded, pubescent, caducous. Androecium. Stamens 4 per flower, alternating with petals, separate, staminodes present. Gynoecium. Ovaries superior, pistils 1 per flower. Gynoecium syncarpous, 2 carpels per flower, styles 1 per pistil.
Fruits: Fruits capsules, 2.5-8 cm long, brown, fruit maturation 1 years.
Comments: The large, woody, ovoid capsules often persist through the winter.
Height: (5-)10-15(-30) m tall.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description:
stems: Pith chambered or hollow. Young twigs (1-year-old or less) brown or tan, pubescent. Twigs (2-4 years old) glabrous or pubescent. Leaf scars oval or round, bundle scars numerous, stipule scars absent. Bark of mature trunks furrowed. Buds axillary or superposed, tan, ellipsoid, blunt, pubescent, tomentose, bud scales imbricate.
leaves: Leaves deciduous, simple, petiolate, opposite, 15-30(-80) cm long, (8-)15-30(-80) cm wide, cordate or ovate, leaf margins entire, unlobed or shallowly lobed, palmately lobed, leaf apices acuminate, leaf bases cordate. Leaf upper surface green, pubescent, tomentose. Leaf lower surface green, pubescent, stellate or tomentose. Leaf venation palmate or pinnate. Petioles 10-20 cm long, glabrate or pubescent. Stipules absent.
inflorescence: Inflorescences axillary or terminal, panicles, flowers stalked.
flowers: Flowers bisexual, hypogynous. Perianth. Calyx radially symmetric, synsepalous. Sepals 5 per flower, calyx tubes 8-15 mm long, tan, sepal apices obtuse, pubescent. Corolla bilaterally symmetric, tubular, sympetalous. Petals 5 per flower, corolla tubes 50-60 mm long, reflexed or spreading or ascending, purple or violet, petal apices rounded, pubescent, caducous. Androecium. Stamens 4 per flower, alternating with petals, separate, staminodes present. Gynoecium. Ovaries superior, pistils 1 per flower. Gynoecium syncarpous, 2 carpels per flower, styles 1 per pistil.
fruits: Fruits capsules, 2.5-8 cm long, brown, fruit maturation 1 years.
comments: The large, woody, ovoid capsules often persist through the winter.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: China
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