The paulownia is a tree native to China with extraordinarily fast growth, recognisable by its huge heart-shaped leaves and showy purple flowers.
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Paulowniaceae |
| Genus | Paulownia |
| Species | Paulownia tomentosa |
It is a tree that can reach 20 metres in height, with a broad, umbrella-shaped crown. Its leaves are remarkably large, especially on young branches, where they can measure up to 60 cm, and are heart-shaped.
Its purple flowers are grouped in pyramidal inflorescences of up to 50 cm that appear before or together with the leaves in spring.
It is a species native to China, although today it is difficult to find truly natural populations because of its extensive historical cultivation. It was introduced to Europe in 1834 and has since become naturalised in North America and Europe.
In Chinese tradition it is customary to plant an ‘empress tree’ when a girl is born, since it grows so quickly that by the time she marries the tree can already be felled to make the furniture for her trousseau.
