Empress Tree vs Thornless Honeylocust - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Thornless Honeylocust

Paulownia tomentosa

Gleditsia triacanthos inermis

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Empress Tree
Thornless Honeylocust

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.

Thornless Honey Locust makes an excellent shade tree with its lacy foliage and dappled shade. The leaves are honey-yellow, light and airy, providing interesting color and texture to your landscape. This variety is thornless, and the seeds and pods provide food for wildlife such as deer and squirrels.

The Thornless Honey Locust is tolerant of drought, various soil conditions, and even road salt.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Thornless Honeylocust Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: light and thin
Flowers: light purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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