Empress Tree - Paulownia tomentosa - All about Royal Empress Tree
This is the empress tree-Paulownia tomentosa. An important bridge, culturally and economically, between our culture and that of Japan. The empress tree is a native of Japan and far eastern China. But there is a pathogen effecting whole stands of this tree in its native range.
The main horticultural interest for this tree for visual aspect is the Spring bloom. In May, the flowers emerge they start coming out before the foliage begins to emerge. The flowers are arranged in these foot-long candles. The flowers in Spring give way to the seed pods later in the growing season. This is last year's seed pod still on the tree. They're kind of a corky, somewhat woody dehiscent capsule that carried tens of thousands of seeds in each one. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, during the China trade between this country and the Far East, this was the preferred packing material in which they put the China in crates. So in many of the seaports of the United States, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, they unloaded the China and threw out the seed pods, creating many groves of Paulownia tomentosa.
The wood of this tree is a very important part of Japanese culture. It's an iconic emblem of long life and prosperity. For instance, they make amulets for newborns, they make ceremonial rice bowls, they use it for coffins. The pathogen that is affecting this species in its native range has made it almost extinct, has made the groves in the United States very, very important for trade. Saw logs go for many tens of thousands of dollars of the right size. The fact that this tree is threatened and almost extinct in its home range opens up valuable opportunities for trade between our country and Japan.
This species is very fast growing. It likes full sun to partial shade. It grows in any type of garden soil, average to heavy. Sandy is okay, as well. I planted this tree four years ago as a five foot sapling and you can see what it's done- very fast growing. I have to also say that it's on the Connecticut list of invasive species, so you want to be careful planting this plant -- not recommended for the home garden. It has lots of seedlings that sprout. It is also a very coarse looking plant for most of the year. It is a wonderful tree as a cultural bridge between Japan and America. Paulownia tomentosa, or the empress tree -- a native of Japan and the Far Eastern part of China. -Eric Larson (transcribed from video)
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Excellent video on this amazing tree. There are a lot of these trees growing wild within the Philadelphia Navy Yard. I have identified them years ago and like to point them out to my coworkers. Some of The trees growing at the shipyard have emerged from cracks in concrete and right alongside walls of buildings. The trees don't care what is in the way they just displace it as it grows. I also have found these trees growing along the Delaware river in the New Jersey side. I read about the seeds being used as packing material (the original packing peanuts) and the fact that they are so prevalent along the river corroborates that historical aspect of them.
Legend in Japan was that the Phoenix watches over your home if you have one. They would also plant one with the birth of a daughter, to use the wood for their wedding chest. I have 2, fifteen years old. They're spectacular now in their spring bloom. I planted them at the back of my fence due to the seed pods falling. The blooms can be seen driving down the street with my home in the middle of the cul de sac, stunningly beautiful! For those who say they're invasive, I'd hoped it was true because I have woods behind me. No trees have grown. I do occasionally have one sprout in my lawn, but my weed and feed kills them if I don't dig them up first to give to a friend. Mine are a hybrid that only grew to 35 feet tall, and the blooms are almost blue in NC. Please don't be afraid to add these to your landscape, but plant them where you won't be bothered by the seed pods falling, or the fact they dump all their leaves at once after the first freeze.
@miked3278
5 жыл бұрын
I'm in NC also and I just got some seeds that I'm going to plant!
@elizabethmchenry3102
4 жыл бұрын
I love this tree and it has not multiplied at all. I don't understand how these people can sya it is the devil tree. Just pluck them out if you do not want others to grow. If you have a huge yard plant them away from where it does not bother you. I love the shade that this tree provides. it is not very attractive in the winder like all decidous trees.
Enjoyed the video and history lesson. I’m considering planting this in our backyard as an ornamental spring bloomer.
I live in Norwich, UK and have collected some seeds from a specimen Paulownia tomentosa in the city garden. I plan to try and germinate them!
Thousands of these are growing wild along rivers in my part of Pennsylvania
Ah! You're in Connecticut! My home state! I'm from Southeastern CT.
This is so interesting, thank you. I came here from researching the crest of the Toyotomi Clan, which is a Paulownia flower!
beautiful
Very informative video. I have a guitar made from this wood, the flowers remind me of a lilac. I think I may try to grow on in my yard. I have a big yard.
@Gardenclips
8 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!
Planting introduced species at large scale can surely affect negatively local communities. As he said it could become an invasive specie.
These are drowning out the redbud flower show here in appalachia very invasive and loves to grow between rocks
Thanks for the video. Why would you plant that tree so close to your building?
Paulownia tomentosa is not originally a native of Japan but endemic to China, and was later introduced to the islands.
@Gardenclips
9 жыл бұрын
QuitLife Thanks for the correction!
Leaves kind of resemble American Catalpa, thanks for the introduction to Japan's empress.
@Gardenclips
8 жыл бұрын
+CONCERTMANchicago Interesting observation, thanks for watching!
I read on a tree sales site, that if you cut it down while it's still fairly young it the growth rate will be explosive? any info on that?
Thank you ! Thank you ! Thank you ! Do not know were this tree came from but discovered it while weeding one day. Took a shine to it and 6 years it is 15,16 feet tall! "my friends are a crazy bunch so it may have been planted for me to find" I always thought it was a mutant of some sort. I live in Florida near a canal that is a mix of sea water and four fresh water springs,or so I was told, Brackish water? Well any way, thank you again my friend " THUMB UP & SUBSCRIBED"!
I planted an empress about 8 years ago in very rocky sandy soil (in Rhode Island its about 25 feet tall a lot of the lower branch's are dead but this year I've noticed new sapling's coming from the roots about 3 feet from the main tree can I cut them and replant them?
I would like to know what type of seed is allocated for wood production and the distance between drilling and thanks
Can you please do a video about Albizia Julibrissin? Hummingbirds love it.
@Gardenclips
9 жыл бұрын
Urban Hum Gardener Good idea, we'll add that to the list! Thanks for watching!
Great article, so much good advise. can the tree be toped if it gets too tall? M.Muenchow
@8tomtoms8
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, but it will grow back again in a month... It's a nightmare tree!!
I bought 10 acres in Texas, my land any the properties around me are or were used for cattle crazing. I have less than 10 trees on my land because it was used for hay production and grazing. I want to plant several of these trees on the edge of the one acre my house is on and down my driveway for shade and as a wind break. I understand that it is invasive but here’s my reason for planting regardless. We already contend with huisatch(weesatch) an invasive thorny bush that grows similar to bunching bamboo. You have to be licensed to get the only herbicide that kills it. This is an issue every farmer in my county and surrounding counties deal with. My thought is that if it spreads it will be sprayed with a very strong herbicide anyhow if they want it gone. Additionally, I don’t believe it will effect hay growth as not much does. Any thoughts?
We've had 2 of these planted for 2 years. This is their 3rd summer. Each year they grow very fast as a bush with multiple spikes coming off the base. There is no distinct trunk and while they did get to nearly 7 foot high last year with very large leaves (12" to 18" across) the spikes all died in the winter. Spring regrowth is off the base on new spikes. and we get no flowers. How do we get these to turn into an actual tree that will give us some shade ? Should we prune all but one of the spikes to force it into a tree ?
Does it smell good..?
Forester here. It is extremely invasive and has traveled as far north as Virginia and as far south and west as Texas. This tree dominates the overstory quickly and out shades everything. Advise against planting these.
@motherofdragonslayers1641
4 жыл бұрын
We discovered one here in the wild in Indiana!
Can u please tell me where can I find young royal empress tree around Karnataka, India
Mine flowers in fall
can you eat the sitcky gree pods
this is my second year with no buds? anyone know why??
@nathanfisher3328
6 жыл бұрын
☼ Heirloom reviews ☼ sterile plant👍 the only kind you can sell in CA and probably other states as well!
Where may I buy seeds?
Seems to me that this tree can save the earth from deforestation, yet here in the states they says its invasive and crowds out native plants. Stopping deforestation with this tree is more important one can easily argue
@letropchiant
5 жыл бұрын
Yes if they do not bring the disease from Japan
@aaronshelley703
5 жыл бұрын
You have no scientific understanding of forestry. You are simply here to add opinion without science.
Mine don’t flower