royal paulownia
Paulownia tomentosa
click thumbnail to enlarge
Form & Habitat
royal paulonia form & habitat
Leaves
royal paulonia leaves
Twigs
royal paulonia twigs royal paulonia twigs
Bark
royal paulonia bark royal paulonia bark
Flowers
Fruit
royal paulonia fruit
  • FAMILY: PAULOWNIACAE (formerly Scrophulariaceae)
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME: empress tree
  • LEAVES: opposite, deciduous, simple; cordate to three-lobed; 8-10 inches; long petioled; pubescent below
  • FLOWER: tubular, two-lipped lobes; purple to blue in color; vanilla scent
  • FRUIT: capsule, 2-3 valved, brown, woody
  • TWIGS: thick branches
  • BARK:
  • FORM: rounded crown; course texture; suckers and sprouts
  • HABITAT: best on well-drained soils
  • WETLAND DESIGNATION: Obligate Upland (UPL): Almost never occurs in wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region
  • RANGE: native of China; found throughout the south
  • USES: ornamental; wood valuable if grown slowly; potential for pulp
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. leaves cordate to three-lobed; 8-10 inches
    2. tubular flowers, purple to blue in color
    LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources

    School of Renewable Natural Reources    		 Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours
    Dr. Chris S. Reid, Project Director | creid4@lsu.edu
    LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources
    LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA
    © 2003-2020

    website problems or broken links: mbowen@agcenter.lsu.edu
    page revised: 15-Jan-2020 4:11 PM  msb    		 LSU AgCenter

    LSU AgCenter
    Provide Website Feedback   |  Accessibility Statement