Empress Tree Seeds (Paulownia elongata)
Empress Tree Seeds (Paulownia elongata)
One of the world’s fastest. Built to astonish.
Paulownia elongata, the Empress Tree, is one of the fastest-growing hardwood trees on the planet, capable of putting on 8 to 15 feet of growth in a single season under ideal conditions. With its massive tropical-looking leaves, fragrant violet flower clusters, and strong drought tolerance once established, it delivers immediate visual impact. Whether you are planting for quick shade, timber, wildlife habitat, or something unforgettable, this tree performs.
- One of the fastest-growing hardwoods in the world
- Massive leaves up to 2 feet wide create deep, cooling shade
- Fragrant violet flower clusters bloom in early spring before leaf-out
- Excellent for timber production, erosion control, and rapid canopy establishment
- Tolerates poor soils and drought once established
Things You Probably Didn’t Know
It has its own cultural tradition.
In Japan, Paulownia trees have been planted to mark the birth of daughters for centuries. When she married, the tree was harvested to craft furniture for her new home.
It comes back stronger after cutting.
When cut to the ground, the tree resprouts vigorously from its roots. This coppicing ability allows for repeated harvest cycles and rapid regrowth.
It’s studied for carbon capture.
Paulownia is known for exceptionally fast biomass production, making it a frequent subject in research on carbon sequestration and reforestation systems.
It blooms before the leaves appear.
Each spring, clusters of fragrant violet flowers cover bare branches, creating a dramatic display you will smell before you see.
Growing Details
- Botanical Name: Paulownia elongata
- Stratification: Not required
- USDA Zones: 5–10
- Soil: Adaptable; tolerates poor, rocky, or compacted soils
- Light: Full sun
- Height: 40–60 feet
- Spread: 30–40 feet
- Growth Rate: Very fast (8–15 ft/year under ideal conditions)
Plant it for shade in seasons, not decades. A tree that earns its place immediately and keeps growing long after you stop watching.
FAQ
FAQ
Do you pre-stratify the seeds?
Most of our seeds are not pre-stratified. They are stored under dry, cold conditions to preserve viability without initiating stratification, allowing you to time germination for your local growing season.
The exception is recalcitrant seeds. Because these seeds must remain moist to stay viable, they are kept in moist, cold storage and are therefore in a pre-stratified state. Depending on how long a particular batch has been stored, some may arrive with an emerging radicle and be ready to plant immediately. Radicle development is not guaranteed.
Please refer to the individual product page and included growing instructions for species-specific requirements.
Do any of your seeds need to stay moist? (Recalcitrant seeds)
Yes. Some species we offer, including Chestnut, Hazelnut, and Paw Paw, are recalcitrant and must remain moist to stay viable.
Please refrigerate these seeds immediately upon arrival unless they have already developed a radicle. Seeds with an emerging radicle should be planted promptly.
Do you ship internationally?
No. We currently ship within the United States only.
We previously shipped to Canada, but tariffs, duties, and import fees resulted in customers receiving significant and unpredictable additional charges upon delivery. Because we cannot reliably calculate or absorb these costs, we have suspended shipping to Canada.
At this time, we do not ship to Canada or other international destinations.
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & Packaging
• Hand-packed in resealable kraft paper seed bags
• Stratification and planting instructions included on every seed pack
• Ships within 3–5 business days via USPS within the United States and U.S. territories
Return Policy
Return Policy
Due to the nature of our products, we do not accept returns on seeds.
If your order arrives damaged, contains incorrect items, or is missing items, please contact us within 7 days of delivery so we can resolve the issue.
