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Empress Tree

About Empress Tree

The princess tree is a fast growing tree in the Paulowniaceae family. It is named in honor of Russian Princess Anna Paulowna (1795-1865). This shade tree grows rapidly adding 15 feet each year to reach a mature height of 50 feet and width of 30 feet in 10 years. It tolerates a range of soils including low fertility and high acidity but prefers moist, deep, sandy-loam well-drained soil.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Paulownia tomentosa

Genus

Paulownia

Family

Paulowniaceae

Order

Lamiales

Also known as

Princess tree and Foxglove-tree

How to care for Empress Tree

💦 Water

How often to water your Empress Tree

Empress Tree needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Empress Tree in your home

Empress Tree love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Empress Tree does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Empress Tree in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Empress Tree

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Empress Tree: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Empress Tree after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Empress Tree can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

How to Grow Empress Tree →

Common Empress Tree Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Empress Tree →

Outdoor Care Guide for Empress Tree →

💦 Water Needs

Empress Tree prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Empress Tree Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Empress Tree requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Empress Tree Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Empress Tree is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Empress Tree Edible? →

Empress Tree Toxicity to Cats →

Empress Tree Toxicity to Dogs →

Empress Tree Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Empress Tree does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Pots for Empress Tree →

What Are Healthy Empress Tree Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Empress Tree is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Empress Tree grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Empress Tree Lifecycle →

Empress Tree Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Empress Tree can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-9a. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Empress Tree Temperature Tolerance →

Empress Tree Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Empress Tree →

When to Plant Empress Tree →

How to Plant Empress Tree →

Where to Plant Empress Tree →

Winter Care for Empress Tree →

Best Companion Plants for Empress Tree →

Is Empress Tree a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Empress Tree, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.