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.

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)