Empress Tree vs Debbies Gold Apricot - TreeTime.ca

Empress Tree vs Debbies Gold Apricot

Paulownia tomentosa

Prunus × Debbies Gold

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Empress Tree
Debbies Gold Apricot

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.

Debbie’s Gold Apricot is a cold-hardy variety known for its firm, sweet, and aromatic fruit. The white to pink flowers bloom several days later than other varieties, making them less susceptible to spring frosts. Their orange-yellow, freestone apricots ripen from late July to mid August and are well-suited for fresh eating, baking, canning, and preserves.

Debbie’s Gold Apricot is generally considered to be partially self-pollinating, but planting with another variety for cross-pollination can increase yields.

Note: While the bloom time is later than other varieties, the flowers are still vulnerable to spring frosts, which can reduce or eliminate the fruit crop.

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Debbies Gold Apricot Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: high


Flowers: light purple
Flowers: white to pink
Bloom time: early to mid spring
Fruit: freestone apricots
Fruit size: 3-4cm in diameter
Flavor: sweet, aromatic
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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