Amur Maple vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Amur Maple vs Empress Tree

Acer ginnala

Paulownia tomentosa

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Amur Maple
Empress Tree

Amur Maple is an incredibly colorful tree. As summer turns to fall, it's bright green leaves turn fiery red. This tree is perfectly suited for urban environments. It's small size allows you to plant it in city yards and beneath power lines. Amur maple can also tolerate urban pollution, moist to dry conditions and is not affected by soil type or pH.

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.

Amur Maple Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Foliage: glossy
Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: light purple
Seeds: red tinged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 2.4 m (8 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Other Names: ginnala maple
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia