On average, the Empress Tree (Paulownia) reaches a towering height of about 50 feet. That’s a pretty massive footprint that won’t fit in every backyard! Especially if you’re planning to keep this beauty in a container, you’ll need to know how to keep it manageable. Here’s the lowdown on how to keep your Empress Tree small and stylish.
Understanding the Growth of the Empress Tree
The Empress Tree—or Paulownia, if you want to get fancy—is a speed demon, especially in its early years. If it’s happy in its spot, don’t be surprised if it shoots up over 6 feet in a single season! Even mature trees can easily add another 3 feet of height every year. Because of this “growth spurt” personality, you’ll want to start pruning early. With a few pro tips, you can keep it at the perfect size for your space for the long haul.
Before you grab your shears to prune it back, decide on your end goal. Do you want a standard patio container plant, or are you feeling ambitious enough to try a Paulownia bonsai? It’s actually best to start pruning before the tree even hits your target height. To keep a Paulownia in check long-term, early and consistent trimming is the name of the game.
How to Prune Your Paulownia the Right Way
When you trim the main leader (the central trunk), the tree will naturally fork out just below where you made the cut. You can use this to your advantage to shape the plant. If you want to maintain a single trunk, just snip off one of those new side shoots. The remaining shoot will become the new, strong leader. As a gardener, this gives you total control over the structure.
Keep these pointers in mind:
- Cut the main stem slightly below your desired final height.
- Give it a trim every single year.
- Don’t be afraid of a “hard prune” (cutting it back significantly) every now and then.
If you’re dreaming of a bonsai, you’ll need to be much more aggressive early on. Cut the main stem down to the height of a typical houseplant and perform a radical pruning. You’ll also need to trim the root system to fit. From there, you can wire your bonsai into shape and settle it into a shallow pot. Just remember to water regularly and feed it with a good bonsai fertilizer to keep it thriving!
