princesstree: Paulownia tomentosa (Scrophulariales: Scrophulariaceae)

princesstree
Scrophulariales > Scrophulariaceae > Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud.
Synonym(s): princess tree, royal paulownia
Princesstree is a deciduous tree that grows to 60 ft. (18.3 m) in height and 2 ft. (0.6 m) in diameter. Leaves are opposite, 6 to 12 in. (15.2-30.5 cm) long, heart-shaped (sometimes with three shallow lobes) and hairy on the underside. Flowering occurs in the spring, when showy, 1.5-2 in. (3.7-5 cm) long, tubular, pale-violet flowers develop in upright clusters. The pecan-shaped fruits occur in terminal clusters and split to release thousands of seeds. The thin, fruit capsules persist well into winter. Princesstree usually invades roadsides, stream banks, forest edges and other disturbed areas, but has the ability to invade a wide variety of places. Once established, it is difficult to remove due to prolific seed production and its ability to resprout vigorously. It is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into North America in the early 1800s for ornamental purposes and as a potential export for carving wood.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut

Invasive Plant Manual - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council

Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South - University of Georgia

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 1 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Seedling(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Tree(s); Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, , Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Foliage; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, , Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; on a car hood Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, , Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Twig(s)/Shoot(s); June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Bark; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org 768x512	Seedling(s); Seedlings growing out of the side of the building. Allen Bridgman, SCDNR, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Flower(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); immature fruit cluster and leaves in June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Fruit(s); June James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Fruit(s); in March James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Seed(s); David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Tree(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Growing out of a crack in a roadcut Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); flowering mature tree located in Auburn University Arboretum in April James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Seedling(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Tree(s); Plantation in Irwin county, Georgia. September. Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Stand; Planted stand Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Control; Nancy Fraley, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 189. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Alabama - IPC List
Connecticut - Noxious Weed Law
Georgia - EPPC list
Kentucky - EPPC List
South Carolina - EPPC List
Tennessee - EPPC List
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.