Bluebell tree

Seeds: 200  / Botanical name: Paulownia tomentosa

Early flowering before leaf emergence

The Empress Tree (Paulownia) is a deciduous tree with a straight trunk and a broad, open crown, reaching a height of up to 15 meters and becoming frost-hardy in later years. From April onwards, its violet flowers appear before or at the same time as the leaves emerge. They emit an intense, sweet fragrance and are arranged in tall, upright panicles. The large, heart-shaped leaves resemble those of the catalpa tree and are velvety on the underside. The capsule fruits, with their pointed tips, each contain approximately 600 slightly winged seeds and overwinter on the tree. Its botanical name honors the Dutch Crown Princess and later Queen Anna Pavlovna. As the favorite tree of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, it is also known as the Emperor's Tree.

Empress Tree originates from central and western China and has since spread to Korea, Japan, North America, and Europe.