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PRINCESS TREE, EMPRESS TREE, ROYAL PAULOWNIA (Paulownia tomentosa)

Description

• Leaves large, heart-shaped, slightly fuzzy.
• Leaves occur in pairs along stems.
• Upright clusters of persistent over-wintering seed pods.
• Showy blue-lavender to violet flower clusters in early spring.
• Origin--Western and central China

Distribution

• Commonly scattered throughout low and mid-elevations.
• Found in all counties.
• Frequently along rights-of-way, stream sides, disturbed sites, and yards.

Threat

• Invades low- and mid-elevation disturbed forest areas where its fast growth can change forest composition.
• Stream banks and rocky slopes vulnerable to invasions, placing special biological diversity at risk.

Control

• Hand pulling of seedlings must be done when soil is loose for root removal.
• Foliar sprays includes glyphosate and triclopyr at 2% solutions.
• Cut trees should have stumps treated with 25% solutions of glyphosate or triclopyr.
• Expect follow-up foliar treatments. Girdling and basal trunk treatment with 25% triclopyr are other options.

Links to sites with additional information on Princess Tree

• PCA Alien Plant Working Group--Princess Tree
• Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council--Princess Tree

References: Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group