Empress Tree vs Hoopsii Spruce - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Hoopsii Spruce

Paulownia tomentosa

Picea pungens Hoopsii

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Empress Tree
Hoopsii Spruce

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.

The Hoopsii Spruce is a cold-hardy variety that has attractive silvery-blue foliage. It is a dense evergreen tree with a distinctive pyramidal form. The needles are highly ornamental and retain their color throughout the winter, which allowed it to win the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.

The Hoopsii Spruce, is a Blue Spruce cultivar and is popular due to being relatively low-maintenance and having a high pollution tolerance.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Hoopsii Spruce Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 2a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Foliage: silver-blue
Flowers: light purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia
Other Names: colorado hoopsii spruce