The Paulownia genus contains up to 17 different species (or types) of trees. This genus was originally named in honor of Anna Paulowna, queen consort of The Netherlands and has become known as the “princess tree” because of this. The Empress Splendor tree is one of these species and is non-invasive. Although the Paulownia is a native North American tree, they are no longer well known in the northern hemisphere. However, they are cultivated and flourish in China, Vietnam, Asia, Korea, Laos, and Japan and are widely used as an ornamental tree.
The Empress are deciduous which means they lose their leaves every year, and they flower in early spring after reaching 2 or 3 years old. The flowers are approximately 4 to 12 inches long and resemble a very large foxglove bloom. Because of this they are more commonly known as a “foxglove tree”. The blooms are light pink or purple with a beautiful fragrance that is a cross between a gardenia and a jasmine.
The seed pod immerges after the bloom and contains thousands of seeds, it is very difficult to propagate these trees from seeds due to their sensitivity to high water tables. It is best to obtain a small starter plant or bare root stock if you are looking to start one.
One of the many benefits of these trees is the regenerative effect it has on the soil. Because the Empress trees love nitrogen, their leaves pull nitrogen out of the air and store it in their cells. When they fall off and decompose in the ground, they naturally supply the tree and the ground around them with organic nitrogen. This has been shown to turn even hard clay soil into deep, rich brown soil that is crumbly and rich.
In a study conducted by the Fort Valley State University in Georgia, they positioned bee hives around their plantation and found that each hive produced between 33 and 44 pounds of honey. But after further research they also discovered that honey made from the Paulownia blooms contains no sucrose. It could be that this may be a viable option for those with diabetes or need to be on a restricted diet.