Empress Tree vs Wayfaring Tree - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Wayfaring Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

Viburnum lantana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

CUSTOM GROW

Empress Tree
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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.

Wayfaring Tree is an adaptable and reliable shrub. It is prized for its ornamental berries that can range in color from red to yellow to black. Consider getting two trees as fruiting is maximized when another Wayfaring Tree is present.

This species has a variety of uses ranging from naturalization, mass planting, borders, and privacy screens.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Wayfaring Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 4a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium


Flowers: light purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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