| Paulowina tomentosa | |
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Princess Tree
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| Origin Of Species | |
| China | |
| Physical Description | |
| Princess tree is a relatively small deciduous tree that may reach a maximum of sixty feet in height, but usually stands around thirty feet tall. The bark is grayish brown and the olive stems are covered with fine hairs. The oval leaves of the princess tree are very large and broad and are often lobed or heart-shaped with noticeable hairs covering the bottom side. The leaves are arranged in pairs along the stem and may reach twelve inches in length. Princess tree flowers are pale pink, fragrant, and tube-like and are arranged in upright clusters appearing in May. The fruit is a brown capsule that matures in the fall, but remains attached through winter. | |
| Habitat And Distribution | |
| Princess tree is prevalent in disturbed areas within forests, along roadsides, around stream banks, and on steep rocky slopes. It is found in nearly thirty states along the eastern half of the United States. | |
| Location On Campus | |
| Princess tree is not known to be on campus. Cultivated specimens occur at the parking lot for the Pony Pasture unit of James River Park in Richmond. | |
| Negative Impacts | |
| Princess tree is usually cultivated as an ornamental, but can aggressively spread to disturbed areas by production of root sprouts and abundant seeds. It is characterized by rapid growth and tolerates a wide range of soils and temperatures. | |
| VDCR Invasiveness Ranking | |
| Moderately Invasive Species | |
