Green Ash vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Green Ash vs Empress Tree

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Paulownia tomentosa

Green Ash
Empress Tree

Green ash is a fast growing tree with incredible golden yellow leaves in fall. This tree is native to the prairies and is well suited for drought and cold. Green ash can also tolerate soil compaction, periods of flooding and a wide variety of soils including alkaline. This makes green ash ideally suited for use in urban environments.

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.

Green Ash Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $3.99 - SAVE UP TO 20%
Lowest Price: $5.49 - SAVE UP TO 54%
Zone: 2b
Zone: 5a
Height: 18 m (60 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: bright yellow in early fall
Flowers: light purple
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium

In row spacing: 1.8 - 2.4 m (6 - 8 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Other Names: downy ash, red ash, swamp ash, water ash
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia