I like the common names of this tree–Princess Tree or Empress Tree. My siblings and I often visited one at the arboretum near the parking lot from which we started our day-long treks. The seeds that resulted in my Paulownia tree came from pods off that tree. These trees are impressively vigorous and my favorite garden writer, Christopher Lloyd, would plant them in his flower borders and cut them back to the ground each year. This results in just a few vigorous stems shooting up from the ground with giant Empress Tree leaves.

Originally, when my seedlings started about five years ago, I intended to follow Mr. Lloyd’s lead, but since then I’ve decided to try to keep my remaining tree as a patio pot plant. I’m not sure this will work, as the tree has suffered a lot this year, the one year I actually gave it some attention.

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My future plans for this plant are to move it up to a larger pot and keep it fed and watered well. It will go in the greenhouse in the winter for now. I’m not sure how hardy it might be in a smallish pot outside.