American Mountain Ash vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

American Mountain Ash vs Empress Tree

Sorbus americana

Paulownia tomentosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

(new stock expected: fall of 2027)

American Mountain Ash
Empress Tree

American Mountain ash is a beautiful, medium-sized ornamental tree that is ideal for residential lots. Mountain Ash blooms with tiny white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of small red/orange berries in the summer.

American Mountain Ash's berries stay on the tree throughout the winter. This attracts birds and other small wildlife to your landscape as the berries are an important food source during the winter months.

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.

American Mountain Ash Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $7.99 - SAVE UP TO 53%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 10 m (32 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: white clusters, spring
Flowers: light purple
Berries: bunches of orange-red
Seeds: seeds contained within the berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: dogberry
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia