Botanical Name: Paulownia Tomentosa
Form: Deciduous
treeSun Exposure: Partial Shade/Full Sun
Height/Habit: Up to 40'
[40-50 ft.]
Spread: Nearly equal spread
[yes]
Hardiness
zone: 4 - 10
[In the West's Climate
zone:
zones 4-9, 11-24]
Foliage Type: Light green cordate leaves, broad crown. No autumn color.
[fall color insignificant; foliage tropical like effect, light green roughly heart shaped sometimes lobed leaves 5-12" long and 4-7" wide]
flower Form: 10" pyramidal clusters of trumpet shaped 2" long blooms.
flower Color: Lavender blue with purple and yellow marks on the inside
[
flower: fragrant 2" trumphet-shaped
lilac blue; inside with darker spotting and yellow stripes.]
Flowering Date: Mid
spring right before and just as leaves are appearing.
[brown
flower buds the size of small olives form in autumn, persists in winter and bloom in early
spring before leafout.]
Planting Requirements: Not particular about location.
[protect from strong winds.]
Soil Requirements: Fertile, moist but well drained soil.
[does best in deep, moist, well drained soil.]
Growth Rate: Fast
[yes]
Unique Characteristics: Rapid
growing tree (similar to Catalpa in texture). Can provide shade in a hurry. Known for its large leaves and foxglove-like
flowers. 15+' in 4-5 years. Can grow as much as 5+' in a year.
Pruning: Remove wayward or crossing limbs in late winter to early
spring while dormant or early autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
[if cut back yearly or every other year from an early age, it will produce a mass of giant-size leaves to 2ft. long but at the expense of
flower production.]
Additional Information: Very tolerant of air pollution
[yes]
My question is this; Does anyone actually own one of these
trees and are they invasive? The photos I see vary a lot! Some look like a
tree with LARGE pink
flowers. Is this a year round bloomer? Does it require a ton of raking? Is it a hazardous
tree in windy areas? Will my neighbors all hate me in 5 years??
[They are very invasive.]
[
plant where falling
flowers and leaves are not a problem.]
[Not a
tree to garden under because of dense shade and surface roots.]
[Check also Paulownia kawakamii, similar to Paulownia tomentosa but smaller at maturity.]
I don't find this
tree listed in much other than a sales oriented presentation. I am tempted to buy but I know there must be real life experiences with this
tree out there and I need your opinions