Winterberry vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Winterberry vs Empress Tree

Ilex verticillata

Paulownia tomentosa

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Winterberry
Empress Tree

Winterberry is a small shrub that produces large quantities of bright red berries that remain on the plant through the fall and into the winter. Adding this shrub to your yard will give it a unique splash of color and attract birds, especially after the leaves drop.

Note: although the foliage is attractive on its own, you need at least one male plant near your female plants or they won't produce berries.

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.

Winterberry Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium


Foliage: yellow-green
Fall colour: bright orange to red
Flowers: light purple
Berries: bright red, stays through winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: black alder, canada holly, coralberry, fever bush, michigan holly, winterberry holly
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia