For most US yards, the foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa, also sold as princess tree, empress tree or royal paulownia) is not worth planting. It grows astonishingly fast and covers itself in fragrant lavender flowers each spring, but it also produces enormous amounts of wind-blown seed, has spread into forests and roadsides across much of the eastern half of the country, drops brittle limbs, and resprouts from its roots when you try to cut it down. If you already have one, the decision usually comes down to whether it is a contained, single specimen you are willing to manage, or a seed source that should come out. This guide lays out the real pros and cons, how invasiveness varies by region, and how removal works.
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In this guide
Key Takeaways
- Paulownia can grow up to 15 feet in a single year under ideal conditions and reach about 50 feet tall within roughly a decade.
- A mature tree can produce millions of tiny winged seeds; it is considered invasive across much of the East and South.
- The wood is light and limbs break in storms, so it is a poor choice near houses, driveways and play areas.
- Cutting alone does not kill it; stumps and roots resprout vigorously.
- Fast-growing native alternatives give shade or screening without the spread.
What Is a Foxglove Tree?
The foxglove tree is a deciduous tree native to China and other parts of eastern Asia. It got its common name from its upright clusters of funnel-shaped, pale violet flowers that resemble foxglove blossoms. It arrived in the US in the 1800s as an ornamental and was later promoted for fast timber. According to N.C. Cooperative Extension, it has since spread along the East Coast from Montreal to Florida and west to Texas, and is still planted as a landscape tree in many areas.
You can recognize it by its huge, velvety, heart-shaped leaves, typically 5 to 12 inches long and about twice that on young trees and stump sprouts; its fragrant pink to lavender flowers in roughly foot-wide clusters before the leaves in April and May; and its oval seed capsules that turn brown and woody and hang on through winter. The flower buds also form in fall and sit on the tree all winter as fuzzy brown knobs. Do not confuse it with catalpa, which has similar big leaves but white flowers after the leaves emerge and long, bean-like pods.
Foxglove Tree Pros
- Extremely fast growth. Few trees match it. A seedling or nursery whip can become a shade tree in a few seasons.
- Showy, fragrant spring flowers. The violet flower clusters with a light vanilla scent are genuinely striking and appear before the leaves, so they show from a distance.
- Tough and adaptable. It tolerates clay, sand, rocky soil, acidic and alkaline soils, drought and low fertility.
- Bold tropical-looking foliage. Some gardeners cut it to the ground each year, a technique called coppicing, to grow a single stem with giant leaves as a dramatic foliage plant.
- Lightweight timber. The wood is valued in parts of Asia for its light weight and is grown on plantations, though home-scale timber returns are uncertain.
Foxglove Tree Cons
Invasive Spread
This is the biggest problem. NC State notes that a single mature tree can produce millions of small, winged seeds, which wind, water and vehicles carry along roadsides, streambanks, rocky slopes and disturbed forest edges. Seedlings sprout readily in bare or disturbed soil and quickly outgrow native trees. Even if your yard is suburban, seed can travel to nearby woods, rail corridors and vacant lots.
Weak Wood and Messy Habits
The same light wood that makes paulownia fast-growing makes it prone to limb breakage in wind, ice and heavy snow. Large, hollow-pithed branches can fail over roofs, cars and fences. It also drops big leaves in fall, spent flowers in spring and woody seed capsules through winter.
Root Sprouts and Resprouting
Paulownia sends up shoots from its roots, especially after the trunk is cut or damaged. Cutting a tree down without follow-up often leaves you with a thicket of fast-growing sprouts around the stump.
Short Useful Life in the Landscape
Fast-growing trees often decline sooner than slower ones, and paulownia is no exception in many yards. Storm damage, trunk wounds and decay can shorten its useful life, leaving you with a large tree to remove.
Size
NC State lists a mature size of about 50 feet tall with a 30-foot canopy within about ten years. That outgrows most small lots quickly, and the dense shade and large leaves make it hard to grow lawn or perennials underneath.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very fast growth, quick shade | Invasive seed spread in much of the US |
| Fragrant violet spring flowers | Brittle limbs break in storms |
| Tolerates poor, dry and varied soils | Root sprouts, especially after cutting |
| Dramatic large leaves | Litter from leaves, flowers and capsules |
| Lightweight timber | Hard and costly to remove completely |
Invasiveness by Region
Whether paulownia is a problem where you live depends on climate and nearby natural areas. In broad terms:
- Southeast and Mid-Atlantic: Widely naturalized along roads, streams and forest edges, especially in the Appalachians. It appears on invasive plant lists from many states and regional invasive plant councils in this area.
- Northeast and Midwest: Spreading in the warmer parts of these regions; seedlings and young trees can be killed back in hard winters, which slows but does not stop spread.
- Texas and the southern Plains: Found in the eastern part of the region, where rainfall supports establishment.
- West: Less widespread, but some Western states track it as a weed of concern. Check before planting.
Rules change, and some states regulate the sale or planting of certain invasive species. Before planting, check your state’s department of agriculture, invasive species council or extension service for its current status. Some nurseries sell sterile or hybrid paulownia selections marketed for timber; their seed production varies, and claims of sterility are worth verifying with your extension office before you plant.
Should You Keep an Existing Tree?
Consider removal if the tree is near your house, driveway, power lines or play areas, if seedlings are appearing around your yard or a neighbor’s, or if you live near woods, streams or open land where seed can establish. A tree with large dead limbs, trunk cracks or decay is a hazard regardless of invasiveness. If it is small and in an open area, removing it now is far easier than later. If you choose to keep a mature tree for now, rake up and bag seed capsules where practical, pull seedlings as soon as you see them, and have an arborist check it for weak limbs.
How to Remove a Foxglove Tree
Because the roots resprout, removal is a process rather than one cut. NC State Extension describes these approaches:
- Seedlings and saplings: Hand-pull saplings up to about half an inch in diameter when the soil is moist, getting as much root as possible, since root fragments can resprout.
- Small trees: A foliar spray of a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate on all the leaves, or a basal bark treatment with a triclopyr ester product on the lower trunk of trees up to about 6 inches in diameter in late winter to early spring.
- Mature trees: Cut the tree within 6 inches of the ground and immediately treat the fresh stump surface with a triclopyr product labeled for cut-stump use, ideally late summer to fall.
- Follow-up: Watch for and remove basal sprouts and root suckers for at least the next season or two.
If you use any herbicide, buy a product whose label lists cut-stump, basal bark or foliar use on woody plants, and follow the label exactly for concentration, timing, protective equipment and keeping it away from desirable plants and water. The label is the legal requirement and overrides general guidance. Basal and foliar sprays can drift onto nearby plants, so the cut-stump method is the most targeted option in a planted yard. If you prefer to avoid herbicides, repeated cutting of every sprout over several seasons can eventually exhaust the roots, but expect it to take persistence.
Large paulownias with heavy limbs over structures are a job for a professional tree service. Our guide to tree removal cost explains what drives pricing, and our tips on choosing a tree removal service cover insurance and credentials. You can compare local arborists through our services directory. Ask for stump grinding or stump treatment in the quote so you are not left with a ring of sprouts.
Better Fast-Growing Alternatives
If you want quick shade or spring flowers, these trees deliver without invasive baggage in most regions. Always confirm they suit your zone and site.
- Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera): A fast-growing native shade tree with tulip-shaped flowers, for large yards in the East.
- Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa): Native, with similar big leaves and showy white flowers; still large, but not invasive in most of its range.
- Red maple (Acer rubrum): Moderately fast, native, with red flowers in late winter and strong fall color.
- Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis): Smaller native tree with pink-purple spring flowers for limited space.
- River birch (Betula nigra): Fast-growing native with peeling bark, good for wet spots.
Another commonly planted ornamental with a similar mix of beauty and problems is the mimosa; see our mimosa tree pros and cons. For screening rather than shade, our guide to fast-growing privacy trees covers evergreen options, and our trees and shrubs guide walks through choosing the right tree for your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the foxglove tree the same as the empress or princess tree?
Yes. Foxglove tree, princess tree, empress tree, royal paulownia and kiri all commonly refer to Paulownia tomentosa. Nurseries also sell other Paulownia species and hybrids under similar names.
How fast does a paulownia tree grow?
Under ideal conditions it can grow up to 15 feet in one year, according to NC State Extension, and reach about 50 feet within roughly ten years.
Is the foxglove tree invasive?
It is considered invasive in much of the eastern and southern US, where its wind-blown seed spreads into forests, streambanks and roadsides. Check your state’s invasive plant list for local status.
Will cutting down a paulownia kill it?
Usually not. The stump and roots resprout vigorously. Removal typically needs a labeled stump treatment or repeated cutting of sprouts over several seasons.
Are paulownia roots invasive?
They are not known for breaking foundations, but they are extensive and send up sprouts, especially after the trunk is cut or injured. Keep the tree well away from structures, pavement and septic systems.
The foxglove tree’s flowers and speed are real, but so are the seedlings, broken limbs and stubborn sprouts. For most homeowners, a native tree gives a better long-term result, and an existing paulownia is easiest to remove while it is still small.