Horse Chestnut vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Horse Chestnut vs Empress Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

Aesculus hippocastanum

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Empress Tree
Horse Chestnut

The Empress Tree is a fast growing, ornamental shade tree. It has purple, fragrant flowers that are quite attractive. The flowers emerge before the leaves in early spring. The leaves of this tree can grow very large, up to 30 cm long.

As one of the fastest growing trees in the world, this tree has been given considerable attention for carbon sequestration projects. It drops many seeds which can make it invasive in warmer climates. Please do some research and plant the right tree in the right place.

The Empress tree’s genus name comes from Princess Paulowna, daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia.

Horse Chestnut is a medium sized deciduous tree that is native to Greece but has been grown in North America for hundreds of years. It produces large nuts.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Horse Chestnut Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 12 m (39 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: most parts of plant are toxic
Fall colour: yellow to orange
Flowers: light purple
Nuts: large spiky nuts
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia