empress splendor tree

Where can Empress trees grow?

Native to central and western China, empress tree has been reported in at least 29 different states, though it's most concentrated in Southern states and along the East Coast, including Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Is the empress tree invasive?

Known as the Princess Tree, Empress Tree, and Royal Empress Tree, Paulownia Trees are highly invasive and are destroying native ecosystems from Maine to Florida and Texas, as well as the Pacific Northwest. ... It is this fast-growing nature that is causing so many problems for native ecosystems.

How much is a paulownia tree worth?

Paulownia trees harvested at 100 board feet each typically bring in about $45,000 wholesale and $90,000 retail per acre. Paulownia is an extremely fast-growing soft hardwood native to China.

How fast does a paulownia tree grow?

Paulownia is extremely fast growing; up to 20 feet in one year when young. Some species of plantation Paulownia can be harvested for saw timber in as little as five years.

How do you kill an empress tree?

Use a hatchet to cut slits around the tree stem into the bark. Then, spray herbicide into the slits with a handheld spray bottle. The tree should die over the course of the growing season, but re-application may be necessary the following year when for controlling paulownia. Cut and Paint.

How long do empress trees live?

Empress trees may live up to 150 years, but 40 to 70 years is more common. The tree's shallow, horizontal roots grow as aggressively as the trunk.

Are Royal Empress trees poisonous?

The Royal Empress Tree is deciduous with extra-large leaves, so their weight causes them to fall periodically throughout the year. Unlike the standard foxglove, the leaves are not toxic to animals.

Do deer eat paulownia trees?

Deer will only browse on Paulownia if they have nothing else to eat. ... Caterpillars love Paulownia leaves. The main leaves to protect during the growing season is the terminal bud at the top of the tree.

Are Royal Empress tree roots invasive?

The Royal Empress tree can grow an incredible 15 feet a year. They have a lovely high-branched canopy and non-aggressive root system. You won't have to worry about it being invasive, or prone to disease and pest problems.

Is paulownia wood expensive?

Westbound settlers also planted the sweet-smelling tree, and the rot- and warp-resistant wood has been used for duck decoys and dulcimers. ... Today, first-rate logs may sell to a lumber merchant for as much as $10 to $15 a board foot, dealers say, making paulownia the most valuable wood in the Eastern forests.

Is paulownia wood strong?

Paulownia is a deciduous Hardwood that has silky light golden – blonde colored wood. Even though the trees grow very fast the grain of finished wood has a lot of character. ... The wood is light but strong and will not crack or split when nails or screws are used.

Does paulownia wood rot?

Paulownia is falsely portrayed as 'naturally decay resistant' because of its extractive content by weight. Recent Forest Products Lab studies clearly show that assuming a level of extractives by weight is not a guarantee against rot and insects.

Are paulownia leaves edible?

Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked. An emergency food, used when all else fails[177, 183]. Flowers[177].

Is paulownia wood safe?

Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Paulownia.

What tree is worth the most money?

A tree's value depends on species, size and quality. The most valuable species are black walnut and white and red oak trees that have grown large enough to yield high quality veneer butt logs.

What is the world's fastest growing tree?

There are reports of the empress or foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa), named after its purple foxglove-like flowers, growing 6 m (98 ft) in its first year, and as much as 30 cm (12 in) in three weeks.

How do you plant an empress tree?

Apply a 3-inch layer of organic compost to the soil and work into the soil before planting. Although the empress tree tolerates any pH of soil from very acid to very alkaline, and grows well in average soils, it prefers humus-based loam that is well draining.

What zones do Royal Empress trees grow?

Hardiness. The Royal Empress Tree will grow without any winter damage from zone 7 to zone 10. It will also grow in zone 6 and the warmer parts of zone 5, but there its branches may be killed by low temperatures below 0⁰F.

Where does paulownia grow?

The Paulownia tree is native to China. Its botanical name is Paulownia tomentosa, but it is commonly referred to as the princess or empress tree. These trees grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness zones 5 to 9.

Is Paulownia Elongata invasive?

Paulownia Elongata is not invasive, however Paulownia Tomentosa is well known as an invasive species worldwide. ... (1)Paulownia elongata, a large-sized deciduous tree growing up to 20 m tall and 1 m in diameter, with a cylindrical, straight bole, is a fast-growing tree native to China.

How do you care for a royal empress tree?

Empress trees grow best in full sun and well-draining soil where they can reach from 30 to 50 feet tall. They tolerate air pollution and light shade. Grow your empress tree either in the ground or as a container plant in a large container.