← All plants
Foxglove tree

Foxglove tree

Paulownia tomentosa

Garden Sun TreeMedium

For your Foxglove tree

All matching products →
Foxglove Tree Fertiliser Foxglove Tree FertiliserFrom €11,95View product → Tree & Shrub Compost Tree & Shrub Compost€8,90View product →

Profile

Plant group
Deciduous flowering tree for spacious gardens
Growth & habit
Fast-growing tree with a broad crown. Account for its eventual spread when choosing a site.
Foliage
Large, softly hairy, ovate to heart-shaped leaves. Vigorous shoots after hard pruning produce particularly large foliage.
Family
Paulownia family (Paulowniaceae)
Origin
East Asia; cultivated in gardens beyond its native range.
Height
About 8–12 m with a broad crown; pruning and site affect size.
Bloom
Fragrant pale-violet panicles in spring, usually April–May depending on location.
Toxicity
Ornamental tree, not classified here as an edible plant. No general statement of safety for consumption.

Care calendar

Flowering / flower development

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Possible flowering on trees not hard-pruned; timing varies with region and weather.

Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.

Your seasonal care plan

  • Check winter protection

    Protect young stems and container roots during frost; inspect ties.

  • Choose a pruning aim

    Maintain a flowering tree or grow giant leaves; hard pruning cannot serve both aims.

  • Inspect after winter

    Assess frost-damaged shoots carefully; time planned foliage pruning around new growth.

  • Care for young trees

    Monitor soil moisture and new growth; protect young plants from late frost.

  • Observe flowers and shoots

    Enjoy flowers on uncut trees; water the root zone during dry weather.

  • Assess water demand

    Water young trees deeply rather than only wetting the surface; account for existing nutrients.

  • Inspect foliage

    Check both leaf surfaces and distinguish dry roots from waterlogging.

  • Inspect crown and ties

    Loosen rubbing ties and assess damaged branches individually.

  • Let growth slow

    Reduce feeding according to need; avoid forcing late growth.

  • Observe fruit and leaves

    Watch woody seed capsules and remove unwanted seedlings early.

  • Prepare for winter

    Secure young trees with suitable ties and shelter containers.

  • Support dormancy

    Check container moisture on frost-free days; do not follow a growth feeding schedule.

Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.

Seasonal care intensity

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.

Peak care Active Reduced care

Care tips

  • Choose full sun and shelter, with room for the mature crown. Use humus-rich, well-drained soil and water young trees thoroughly during dry periods. Fragrant violet flowers form panicles on the sparsely leafed tree. Giant foliage after hard pruning and regular flowering are different growing aims.

Fruit & seed

Fruit and seed formation

Ovoid woody capsules contain numerous small seeds.

Harvest and use

Collect propagation seed from ripe capsules and limit unwanted self-seeding in the garden. Not a fruit crop.

Plant knowledge at a glance

Position, benefits & character

Position & soil

Choose full sun and shelter, with room for the mature crown. Use humus-rich, well-drained soil and water young trees thoroughly during dry periods.

Distinctive features

Fragrant violet flowers form panicles on the sparsely leafed tree. Giant foliage after hard pruning and regular flowering are different growing aims.

Benefits

Bold foliage, flower panicles and a broad crown add structure to larger gardens.

Partners & symbioses

Insects may visit the flowers. Root space and existing soil nutrients contribute to nutrition; feed cannot replace suitable soil.

Pruning & growth habit

Fast-growing tree with a broad crown. Account for its eventual spread when choosing a site.

  1. 1. Prune lightly for flowers

    Remove dead or poorly placed branches selectively. Regular hard pruning prevents the usual flowering display.

  2. 2. Grow for large foliage

    Hard pruning produces vigorous new shoots with large leaves. Choose this deliberately as an alternative to a flowering tree.

Nursery forms

This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.

Container-grown

Common form

Container-grown young tree; inspect root ball and shoot structure.

Standard

Ask a specialist nursery

Trained tree with trunk and crown; check space requirements before buying.

Propagation & grafting

Propagation

Sow in spring or autumn under protection. Seeds need light to germinate; protect young seedlings from frost.

Grafting

Grafting is not required for ordinary species cultivation. Do not assume plants of unknown origin are named cultivars or hybrids.

Species & cultivars

Paulownia tomentosa

Species plants are not interchangeable with every Paulownia hybrid. Check provenance and traits of the specific offer when buying a named cultivar.

Pests & diseases

These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.

Assess wilting

Check soil moisture, root space and frost or wind damage first. Extra fertiliser cannot repair damaged roots.

Monitor the growing site

Remove unwanted seedlings early. Consider local spreading behaviour when planning the garden.

Hardiness · USDA

Consider site and plant age

RHS H5; Oregon State lists USDA Zone 5. These use different climate scales and are not frost guarantees. Give young shoots and container roots extra protection.

Paulownia tomentosa
USDA 5USDA Zone 5 according to Oregon State University; consider local winter conditions.

USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.

Understand USDA zones and maps →

A closer look

Flowering foxglove tree
Growth habit

Flowering foxglove tree

Editorial plant scene with violet flower panicles.

GREEN24

Botanical features vary with age, species and cultivar.

Matching GREEN24 products

Matching fertilisers and substrates for your plant care.