Siberian Crab Apple vs Empress Tree
Malus baccata
Paulownia tomentosa
Siberian Crab Apple is a beautiful, cold hardy, ornamental tree. Its stunning white blossoms burst in the spring to produce deep red fruit.
If you are looking for a great landscape or shade tree, Siberian Crab Apple is a beautiful addition to any yard.
As a rootstock, it is one of the hardiest available. Just be aware that Siberian Crab Apple may be incompatible with varieties that don't have crab apple parentage.
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.