Ohio Buckeye vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

Ohio Buckeye vs Empress Tree

Aesculus glabra

Paulownia tomentosa

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Ohio Buckeye
Empress Tree

Ohio Buckeye is a medium sized deciduous tree. If you are looking for a shade tree, Ohio Buckeye's dense canopy of unique leaves can provide it.

Named after its fruit, an inedible nut enclosed in a prickly husk, Ohio Buckeye also features green-yellow flowers and long, broad leaves that turn brilliant red in the fall.

Slow growing, but an extremely attractive tree. Find out what experienced horticulturalists already know: this tree is a gem.

A top CO2 absorbing species. Experts think this tree may help climate change more than others.

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.

Ohio Buckeye Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 5a
Height: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: high

Toxicity: nuts are toxic to humans and cattle

Foliage: palmate
Fall colour: reddish-orange or yellow
Flowers: light purple
Nuts: spiny nut
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON
Other Names: american buckeye, fetid buckeye
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia