Pruning The Paulownia For Monster Jungle Leaves

A video on pruning Paulownia tomentosa (also known as the foxglove tree or the princess tree) for enormous jungle-effect leaves. A great addition to any tropical garden. The options of coppicing or pollarding are discussed.
From Douentza Garden in Wexford, Ireland.

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[GrowWithGeorge]

Thanks for the video Rachel. I even have a 3-4 year old Paulownia.

[jonathnnn]

I just love Paulownias. Pauwlonia fortunei fast blue is also great for foliage effect.

[desertplantsofavalon]

You have done a wonderful pruning on the Paulownia tomentosa and thats amazing that it is hollow all the way through, thanks so much for sharing Rachel and sending tons of love and heaps of happiness from Waterford to Wexford and have a BRILLIANT weekend ahead <3

[atomizer]

Nice tree :) I have three 5 years old paulownia`s that live in 100L containers. I coppice them march / april time. I generally let them keep 3-5 shoots to keep the height down but increase the spread. Last year i left one with just one shoot and it grew to 12ft, the bottom of the stem was 2" diameter :) They are stunning in the summer but become a stick in the winter :)

[paulkelly]

I'm thinking of growing one of those in Kilkenny just down the road from you, I noticed your on a hill as am I. I'm sheltered from the North and East winds. Worth a try I think.

[meehan]

What a magnificent looking Poaulownia Leaf

[SHARONSHORTOrchidsandGarden]

Thanks for sharing, Rachel. Happy growing.

[jackiebinkley]

I planted one of these trees here in N. Illinois about 20 years ago and every year I have to cut it almost to the ground but it always comes back. It has never flowered due to the cold die back, but it grows more than 12 feet in one year and mine is multi stemed. So many people have asked me over the years what the tree with the huge tropical looking leaves is because I don't think I have ever seen it growing up here anywhere else. I wish I could get flowers on it, but I knew when I put it in that in the colder climates it is prone to die back. The roots, however, are extremely hardy.

[hootinouts]

Hello from the US. There are a lot of these trees growing wild within the Philadelphia Navy Yard. I have identified them years ago and like to point them out to my coworkers. Some of The trees growing at the shipyard have emerged from cracks in concrete and right alongside walls of buildings. The trees don't care what is in the way they just displace it as it grows. I also have found these trees growing along the Delaware river in the New Jersey side. I read about the seeds being used as packing
material (the original packing peanuts) and the fact that they are so prevalent along the river corroborates that historical aspect of them.

[nataliacroxton]

Wow!! Massive leaves! We have had snow recently in UK and I felt little bit sorry for the tree having lost almost half of its own growth. but if it needs to be done to get such large leaves, then so be it! Thank you very much for yet another lovely video! 👍👍👍🌿

[bumblebeesorchids]

Very interesting video. And nice to see Catsky again. :)

[orchidsadutchy]

Interesting! Why is it called foxglove, is it from the shape of the blooms? I had to google it, and it looks like a normal tree with normal sized leaves. I'm surprised it could make such monster leaves like you showed in the video. Do other plants do the same thing if pruned so much? I'm really curious about this plant. Could you make regular updates as soon as it starts to produce leaves? Does it bloom, if cut like this? Does it normally bloom before or after the leaves grow?

[_wormlet]

I just planted one about ten feet from a shed. I wonder if that's too close?

[TheRoryemoran]

Hello, If you pollard it and keep it smaller for the big leaves do you have to worry about the roots near house like you would if you let it become a big trer?

[lessharkboy]

Hi Rachel, I would like to grow one of these but I'm worried it would get too large in my relatively small garden here in Devon. I really like jungle style plants. As long as it's pruned every spring will it stay fairly small? Thanks for sharing the video.

[NOSSOPAISAGISMOONLINEBRASIL]

Great info as always Rachel. Have a wonderful weekend. NPO

[dimkish]

I have grown 2 plants from seeds in the pots. They are about 25 cm now. Can you advice what to do with them for the winter? It can get -10C here in Canada. Thanks

[Jallenbah]

Do you find the tree throws up root suckers? I have read that these readily propagate from root cuttings and that even if you uproot it, remaining bits of root in the ground will produce new plants all over the place. That and even if you don't disturb the roots it will still put up new saplings out of the root system. What has your experience been with this? I'm in England we we've a similar climate - will be good to know how it's been for you. Thanks

[HeirloomReviews]

the leaves on this tree get huge !! thanks for sharing !! : ) ))

[Hy-Brasil]

Thank you for this video. I planted one (from a tree someone gave my mom years ago) just so i could feed my goats. i found out they make pretty good fodder... and i found you because i needed to know just how heavily they can be pruned. now i don't yet know if i want to coppice or pollard my I know many hate them for their invasiveness but i actually look forward to because i have 18 head of goats (and one sheep...shep?) I also live on the border of a swamp (my swamp actually) and I can't do anything with so it would be extra nice if these lovely nutritious trees could grow close to... or IN the water. i doubt they can, but it's a nice thought. No problem. I also have willow trees and mulberry, which are just as useful.