Empress Tree vs White Meadowsweet - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs White Meadowsweet

Spiraea alba

Paulownia tomentosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

White Meadowsweet
Empress Tree

White Meadowsweet is a woody, deciduous shrub that begins to bloom in early summer with small white and pink flowers. Its foliage turns from a light green into an attractive golden-yellow later in the fall.

The White Meadowsweet, also known as Mead-Wort or Bride-Wort, is favored by birds and butterflies but is largely ignored by deer. They produce small brown berries in the summer, and while they are technically edible, they are not sweet and are more desired by 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.

White Meadowsweet Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

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Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: golden yellow
Flowers: white, small
Flowers: light purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: mead wort, meadowsweet, narrowleaf meadowsweet, pale bridewort, pipestem
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia