The princess tree - Oxygen Tree - foxglove tree ( Paulownia tomentosa ) is our proposal for the ambitious gardeners who are interested in ecology. This Asian beauty, also known as the empress tree, is a long-lived, fast-growing, extremely useful tree with decorative, yet edible flowers and leaves. It takes on an umbrella-shaped habit when provided with enough space. A sprawling, picturesque crown made of spreading branches towers above the erect trunk that is covered with a smooth, greyish-brown bark. In spring, the tree is showered with lilac-purple, sweet-smelling flowers gathered in lush, up to 30 cm long clusters. Large, heart-shaped, bright green leaves appear later than the flowers. The species offered in our store surprises with its vigour, as it can grow 2 metres long within a single season. Despite the fact that the thermophilic oxygen tree is quite sensitive to late spring frosts, it shows strong regenerative properties and can withstand frost damage without any problems. Apart from being ornamental it is also beneficial for the environment. The princess tree is dubbed the Oxygen Tree for a reason. The representatives of this species absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, up to ten times higher than the other trees!

Sow the princess tree seeds on a warm and sunny position, because they needs access to light in order to germinate. The young seedlings should be kept at home during the first winter. The one year and two year old trees constitute a perfect, unique decoration of a terrace or balcony. The older ones will cope in the garden - you only need to provide them with a warm site sheltered from the cold eastern wind. Despite its vigour, the princess tree does not have excessive soil requirements and grows well in all permeable, moderately fertile soils.

Each package contains 0.1 gram of the princess tree (oxygen tree) seeds. The growing tips and the sow-by date are included in the package information.

• Use: ornamental; edible flowers and leaves
• Blooming time: spring
• Growth form: erect, umbrella shaped trees
• Flower colour: lilac-purple
• Vegetation form: perennial
• Foliage: Large, heart-shaped, bright green leaves
• Flower type: large, up to 30 cm long clusters
• Site: warm, sheltered; permeable, moderately fertile soil
• Weight (in grams): 0.1 g