Royal Empress Tree
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 Royal Empress Tree |
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History
Paulownia is native plant to China, Laos and Vietnam. The genus contains over 6 species. Some confusion in the taxonomy leaves us without an actual number of different types of that do exist. This very rapidly growing, deciduous hardwood tree that bears the common name “Royal Empress Tree”. The plant was named in honor of the daughter of a Russian tsar, Queen Anna Pavlovna of The Netherlands (1795–1865).
Paulownia has been grown extensively in Japan for lumber for centuries as a source of valuable lumber. It is an age-old Japanese tradition to plant a tree when a daughter is born. When she is grown, the tree is harvested and a wedding chest is built for her from the lumber her tree yields. Today, the Paulownia fortunei is extensively grown for lumber around the world.
The assumption that the Paulownia tree is a non-native thug in North America is untrue. Paulownia did in fact exist in North America in prehistoric times. More than 500 fossils of Paulownia leaves were discovered in the state of Washington during the 1990’s. The Paulownia tree listed in the US as an exotic invasive species is the Paulownia tomentosa. It should be widely understood that the hybrid varieties of the tree are not invasive.
The US patented hybrid, Paulownia x elongata (PP# 10847) is another matter completely. This flowering shade tree offers incredible and numerous benefits and is of great importance to the population and the environment.
Characteristics
The hybrid Royal Empress Tree (Paulownia elongata) can grow 10 feet to 15 feet tall in the first year of planting from a liner. The tree can reach 30 feet tall by the end of the third growing season, with a mature height of 75 feet in 15 to 18 years. The Royal Empress Tree matures in 3 short years to bestow the benefit of cooling shade and spring color from its 6-week bloom period.
In the landscape, the lightly scented bloom heads can reach up to 1 foot long. The individual flowers are a nice shade of lavender with a yellow center. The leaves of the Royal Empress Tree are very large measuring between 6 to 15 inches across. In fall the leaves turn to eye catching golden yellow. These three attributes make this a highly desirable and all-purpose tree for residential and commercial landscape design.
The Paulownia tree is easy to grow in full sun exposure and adapts readily to a wide range of climates and conditions; zones 5 to 11 (-5F). The Royal Empress Tree is not prone to pests and diseases, making it a rather carefree plant. It doesn’t do well in overly wet soil or seaside locations exposed to salt spray. Paulownia grows in almost any soil and prefers a pH level of 5.5-8.5. It requires a deep soaking watering twice a week in the first two years. From the third year on, the roots have developed deep enough that it has good drought tolerance.
Uses
Due to their incredible sized leaves, this tree removes carbon dioxide and other poisons from the air swiftly. The result is that the Paulownia elongata turns out purified oxygen 10 times faster than any other tree. This attribute makes it an excellent candidate for planting in urban areas.
The lumber harvested from Paulownia is knot-free, lightweight and stronger than Balsa wood. It is used for pulp as well as making fine furniture, moldings and musical instruments. It offers reduced costs to manufactures with less waste and expense in the shipping of products. When the lumber is harvested the roots automatically regenerate a new tree in the same spot. The benefits of a renewable forest means that forests and plantations require no preparation or replanting and are rapidly replaced.
The Royal Empress Tree has the ability to renew polluted soil, stop erosion and preserve topsoil. Studies show that the trees purify the soil by absorbing animal waste and other toxins left behind. The root systems are well behaved, staying in close proximity to the tree.
Home Use
In the residential landscape, this hybrid Royal Empress Tree offers three seasons of ornament and relief. The huge leaves lend textural interest not found in most other plants and are an excellent source of nutrient rich mulch or compost additive. For newly built homes, the benefit of faster soil stabilization is available from the rapidly maturing root system. Lower water requirements reduce the use of valuable fresh water needs for yard maintenance.
The lack of mature shade trees around newer homes can increase energy costs by up to 25% over that needed to run an older home. The Paulownia elongata rapidly produces the protection of dense shade for summer cooling and wind shelter to reduce heating costs over the winter.
Unlike other fast growing shade trees, the Royal Empress Tree is a hardwood whose trunk and branches are exceedingly strong. The fully leafed canopy is a haven for birds and also attracts butterflies offering an increase of color and further interest to the home living space. This particular Royal Empress Tree is decidedly a very convenient truth.