Paulownia tomentosa - Foxglove Tree

Grown for its enormous leaves and masses of lavender flowers in summer, Paulownia tomentosa is a medium-sized, very fast-growing, deciduous tree with a broad, spreading habit and rather thick branches. Striking, green, oval leaves up to 8”/25cm long leaves are normally produced, but if the tree is cut back to the ground each year, the leaves become enormous. In summer, sprays of lavender-coloured, foxglove-like flowers cover the tree, but, as it flowers on wood produced the previous year, you will not get flowers if the plant is cut back to improve leaf-size. The foxglove tree holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Please Note: Due to the very soft nature of new growth on these trees, stem or leaf damage may occur in transit. This has no effect on the overall health of the tree, as this new soft growth will fall off in Winter anyway, back to stronger older growth.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any well drained soil, preferably moist
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Summer in particular
Hardiness: Fully hardy but frost can brown emerging leaves
Height: 40’ (12m) Spread: 26’ (8m)