White Birch (Paper Birch) vs Empress Tree - TreeTime.ca

White Birch (Paper Birch) vs Empress Tree

Betula papyrifera

Paulownia tomentosa

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

White Birch (Paper Birch)
Empress Tree

White Birch is a large, attractive deciduous tree. This fast-growing, cold hardy species has distinctive white papery bark that peels in layers, making it a beautiful ornamental or accent tree. White Birch also makes great firewood.

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.

White Birch (Paper Birch) Quick Facts

Empress Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 5a
Height: 18 m (60 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 11 m (35 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Bark: white, papery, peeling
Flowers: light purple
Seeds: located within the catkins
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no


Other Names: american white birch, canoe birch, paper birch
Other Names: chinese empress tree, foxglove tree, princess tree, royal paulownia