Norway Maple vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Norway Maple vs Empress Tree

Acer platanoides

Paulownia tomentosa

CUSTOM GROW

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Norway Maple
Empress Tree

Norway Maple is a tolerant and adaptable shade tree. This is probably why it is the most popularly planted boulevard tree in North America.

Note: Norway Maple will sucker with age. It's also not a good idea to plant it under power lines.

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.

Norway Maple Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 12 m (39 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: golden yellow
Flowers: light purple
Seeds: located within the winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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