Royal Empress Tree

Paulownia elongata

$59⁵¹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Fast-growing, Flowering, Fragrant, Heat Tolerant, and Drought resistant

Specifications

Botanical Name

Paulownia elongata
Height

40-50 ft
Width

30-40 ft
Growing Zones

5-11
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color
- Purple
Leaf Color
- Green
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Spring

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

Sunlight: The Royal Empress Tree thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to support its rapid growth. While it can tolerate light afternoon shade in hot climates, a lack of sun will lead to weaker branches and fewer of its signature purple blooms.
Soil: These trees prefer well-drained, loamy soil but are famous for their ability to adapt to poor, rocky, or compacted ground. If you have heavy clay, mix in some organic compost at planting time to improve drainage, as "wet feet" or standing water can cause root rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, water your tree deeply twice a week to ensure the roots establish a firm anchor in the soil. Once mature, the Royal Empress is remarkably drought tolerant, though a lack of deep watering during summer dry spells can result in smaller leaves and early leaf drop. Think of consistent moisture as the fuel that allows this tree to maintain its record-breaking growth speeds.

Pruning Tips

Since this tree blooms on old wood, you should only prune it immediately after the flowers fade in late spring. Use a "structural" approach by removing any crossing branches or narrow V-shaped crotches to prevent limb breakage during heavy winds. Pruning early in its life helps create a strong central leader, which acts like a sturdy backbone for the heavy canopy to follow.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring just as the buds begin to swell. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, succulent growth that won't have time to "harden off" or toughen up before the first frost. This late-season growth is easily damaged by freezing temperatures, which can kill the tips of the branches and ruin next year's flower display.

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Growing Zones 5-11

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World's Fastest Growing Tree, with Year-Round Appeal

Fastest Growing Hardwood Tree
Hardy
Jasmine Scented Flowers
Huge Leaves
Pest and Disease Resistant

The Royal Empress Tree (Paulownia elongata) is native to China, but has found a welcome home in the U.S. as the world's fastest growing shade tree. This miracle of nature can grow up to 15 feet in its first season.

Your Royal Empress tree will announce the arrival of spring with a spectacular display of bell shaped flowers that burst into bloom on cascading clusters of 8-12" blossoms. Their colorful display of lavender-kissed, pink and white will infuse the air with the fragrant scent of jasmine.

When the majesty of spring has passed, your friends and family will be amazed throughout the summer by the Empress' uniquely fuzzy leaves. These huge emerald green leaves can reach up to 3 feet across.

The Royal Empress tree can also filter toxins from the air at an amazing rate. In fact, your tree can capture more Carbon from the environment and convert it into pure, clean oxygen than almost any other tree in existence. As if all this weren't enough, during the winter months you will enjoy the adorable furry buds that cover your tree's branches as they await the first signs of spring to welcome them into new life.

The Royal Empress tree is super hardy and tolerant of almost any soil type although it does best in well-drained soils. It prefers sun or partial shade and is pest and disease resistant.

Your Empress will be an outstandingly easy to grow accent to your landscape, providing a full, rounded crown to shade your home in a fraction of the time most trees would require to do so.

We grow our Royal Empress Tree to be fast growing and strong. NatureHills.com partners with Plant Sentry™ to ensure all plants shipped to you are compliant with state and federal regulations. This means we won't ship plants to you that are invasive in your area, including Royal Empress.

Order now and it is sure to bring many years of beauty to your landscape.

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Royal Empress Tree

Paulownia elongata

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Specifications