| Princesstree, also known as Royal Paulownia, is a fairly common weedy small to medium tree from Asia. Abundant along roadsides, it sometimes also invades natural habitats. The purplish flowers are quite showy in early spring. Madison Co. NC 5/11/08.
|
| The huge, velvety, sticky leaves are unique. The light wood (kiri in Japanese) is used in Japan for making furniture, especially bridal chests.
| 
| Flower buds. Orange Co., NC 3/11/07.
| 
| The trees are spectacular in bloom, brightening up the edges of interstate highways and other disturbed areas in late April and early May. The flowers are strongly scented — sweet and musky with overtones of licorice and lilacs. Chatham Co., NC 5/2/04.
| 
| The dry capsules split open in winter, shedding thousands of tiny wind-dispersed seeds. You can see a couple of them falling in this photo. Orange Co., NC 3/11/06.
| 
| The capsules last into early spring. Orange Co., NC 4/10/05.
| 
| The bark is light gray with very shallow fissures and warty lenticels. Orange Co., NC 4/10/05.
|
| Madison Co. NC 5/11/08.
|
More information:
NC State Fact Sheet
Plant Conservation Alliance Fact Sheet
Silvics Manual
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Virginia Tech Dendrology
USDA PLANTS
Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides
|
|