Empress Tree vs Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

Hibiscus moscheutos

Paulownia tomentosa

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Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)
Empress Tree

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) has large white-pink showy flowers which attract hummingbirds and pollinators to your yard. It is a tall, fast growing perennial shrub. The flowers typically only last 1-2 days, but the plant will continue to rebloom throughout the season.

This hibiscus tolerates heat and humidity but does not do well when exposed to wind. Make sure the plant has access to lots of moisture for better flowering.

The Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) is also known as the dinner plate hibiscus because it can grow incredibly large flowers, as big as dinner plates.

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.

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 5a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Flowers: pink-red
Flowers: light purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: crimson-eyed rose-mallow, dinner plate hibiscus, eastern rosemallow, hardy hibiscus, marsh mallow, marshmallow hibiscus, sea hollyhock, swamp mallow, swamp rose hibiscus
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia