Empress Tree vs Brandon Cedar - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Brandon Cedar

Paulownia tomentosa

Thuja occidentalis Brandon

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Empress Tree
Brandon Cedar

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 Brandon Cedar is a columnar evergreen with soft, dense foliage that retains its bright green color all year round. It makes for a great vertical accent on your property or as part of a hedge, it is suitable for urban gardens due to its size and it is highly shade tolerant.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Brandon Cedar Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: shade, partial shade
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


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


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