At first glance, a Chinese empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa), also known as the foxglove tree, empress tree, or princess tree, seems appealing. It has pretty purple flowers in spring and grows rapidly, which has made it a popular tree for providing quick shade. Find out how to grow a foxglove tree, including care and coppicing, with advice from the experts at Gardens Illustrated.

Understanding the Context

Paulownia are deciduous trees with large, ovate leaves and erect panicles of foxglove-like flowers in spring; they can also be coppiced for extra-large leaves at expense of flowers Foxglove trees are breathtakingly beautiful, but is it worth having one in your garden? Discover the wonderful flowering Paulownia tomentosa and learn all about care, propagation and more. Discover the fascinating world of foxglove trees with our comprehensive guide covering identification, care requirements, benefits, and uses in landscaping and timber production. The foxglove or empress tree, Paulownia tomentosa, is a deciduous, fast-growing tree native to China.

Key Insights

It's primarily grown for its giant leaves and panicles of foxglove-shaped blooms. Morning Overview on MSN: How foxglove went from deadly plant to heart medicine? Foxglove, a flowering plant long feared for its toxicity, became an unlikely source of a widely studied heart drug. Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside associated in modern medicine with Digitalis species ...