# Paulownia Paulownia trees are known for their large, heart-shaped leaves and beautiful purple flowers. They grow quickly and provide shade for many animals in the forest. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Princess Tree, Royal Paulownia ![Paulownia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Paulownia_imperialis_leaf_345.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paulownia_imperialis_leaf_345.jpg) ## Appearance The Paulownia has large, velvety heart-shaped leaves and showy, fragrant purple, trumpet-shaped flowers in spring. Its light gray-brown bark is smooth, and distinctive brown seed pods persist through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Magnoliophyta - **Class:** Rosopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Bignoniaceae - **Genus:** Paulownia ## Interesting facts - Its enormous heart-shaped leaves can grow bigger than your head! - Paulownia flowers produce lots of nectar, making delicious honey for bees and humans! - Paulownia trees are also known as the 'Empress Tree' or 'Princess Tree'. - The lightweight wood is perfect for making surfboards, kayaks, and even airplane parts! ## Special abilities - **Speedy Sprout:** Paulownia can sprout incredibly fast, growing several meters yearly, helping it quickly outcompete other plants for sunlight and space. - **Soil Healer:** Paulownia can thrive in poor, damaged soils, using its deep roots to help improve fertility and prevent erosion in degraded lands. - **Fire Shield:** Paulownia's wood has a high ignition temperature, helping the tree survive wildfires better than many other tree species. - **Carbon Catcher:** Paulownia can absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide very quickly, helping clean the air faster than many slow-growing trees. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 12-20 m - **Spread:** 8-12 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 50-100 cm - **Lifespan:** 30-80 years - **Fruit Type:** Capsule - **Growth Rate:** Fast - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from flowers - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses young leaves and shoots - **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — builds nests in its branches ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy looking at Paulownia trees from a safe distance and avoid climbing them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Paulownia? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Paulownia? 12-20 m ### How wide does Paulownia spread? 8-12 m ### Is Paulownia edible? No ### How big is Paulownia? 50-100 cm ### How long does Paulownia live? 30-80 years ### Where is Paulownia usually found? Forests ### What kind of fruit does Paulownia produce? Capsule ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Elk Neck State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park - [Four Corners](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/four-corners) — New Jersey, US · Neighborhood - [Glen Echo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-echo-park) — Maryland, US · National Park - [Herring Run Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/herring-run-park) — Maryland, US · Park - [All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/all-wars-memorial-to-colored-soldiers-and-sailors) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Paulownia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/paulownia) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Paulownia: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paulownia)