Mongolian Cherry vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Mongolian Cherry vs Empress Tree

Prunus fruticosa

Paulownia tomentosa

CUSTOM GROW

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Mongolian Cherry
Empress Tree

Mongolian Cherry is a hardy shrub that is often grown as an ornamental. This plant makes an attractive flowering hedgerow that requires little maintenance. The dark red cherries are tart and desirable for baking, wine-making, and canning. This shrub is popular with wildlife.

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.

Mongolian Cherry Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium


Flowers: clusters of white flowers
Flowers: light purple
Fruit: tart dark red cherry
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: dwarf cherry, european dwarf cherry, steppe cherry
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia