Bristlecone Pine vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Bristlecone Pine vs Empress Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

Pinus aristata

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Empress Tree
Bristlecone Pine

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.

Bristlecone Pine is a small to medium evergreen with an irregular habit and contorted branches.

This extremely long-lived tree is relatively low maintenance and drought-tolerant.

It is known for its deep green to blue-green needles flecked with white resin, and its thin, scaly, grey-brown bark. Because it is extremely slow-growing, Bristlecone Pine is well suited to smaller properties.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Bristlecone Pine Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 2a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: extremely slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Flowers: light purple
Cones: purple ripening to yellow
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia
Other Names: colorado bristlecone pine, foxtail pine, hickory pine, rocky mountain bristlecone pine