Take the seeds and soak them for 48 hours in a solution one part Clorox to three parts water. Drain and let dry for three to four weeks, full sun is best. Seeds will then be ready to plant under 6 inches of gravel.

NOT! No one here is going to help you grow 'tons' of these invasive trees! Are you serious?

"NOT! No one here is going to help you grow 'tons' of these invasive trees! Are you serious?"

Excuuuuuuse me! So sorry I stepped on your sensibilities. Your sarcasm is noted and quite appreciated by this forum newcomer. NOT!

I'll take my lickin'. I deserve it! And I do apologize (most sincerely) for my unwarranted rudeness.

I guess I was just taken aback by someone who knows of their invasive qualities yet still wants to know how to grow a bunch of them. I'm sure you have your reasons.

There IS an American Paulownia Association...geared for those who are interested in growing this tree for lumber. Perhaps their website has information and/or links that might be of interest to you.

We used to have one in our front yard. People called it a "Coffee-wood Tree." They are kind of short lived and the older branches get rotten and fall off and make a mess, but the flowers are real pretty. When they get old and full of holes the birds will use them for nests, so they're good for nature in that respect.
We didn't have them popping up all over the place and I didn't even know they were invasive. It's your yard, grow what you think is pretty!

I'm thinking of getting one myself for my backyard in New Orleans. We lost so many trees in Katrina; I can't see how it can hurt anything even if it spreads. Does anyone know how it stands up to wind? I had a gigantic pecan tree that flattened my shed during the hurricane. I'm not looking for something that's likely to blow down.

They say it's very prone to breakage--hollow branches--so I don't think that's a good choice. Maybe a sycamore. My Mom has a huge one and here in FL I watched it handle several storms without any major breakage (and they grow quickly.)

Yesterday I planted some empress seeds in big pots just to see what they are going to do. We don't have any around here. I wonder if they are going to come up. Well I'll see.

Tulip poplars grow very quickly and yet don't seem to break easily, so that's a thought for you. They have flowers, but to see them you either have to get above the tree or wait for them to fall to the ground. Or maybe if you can stand back from the tree you can see them better than I can with our narrow side yard.

Southerngal,

I may not be able to help you with your planting seeds, but for those of you that are speaking of invasive qualities, I have had a wonderful experience with a hybrid species of Empress called the Empress Splendor. It has the amazing growth rate of the Tomentosa but does not share the invasive attributes. I purchased them at www.worldtreetech.com and they have been growing amazing for me ever since. You may want to have a look; it is much easier than seeds!

Let me know if you have anymore questions!

Jimmy Carter- Former President and Commercial Paulownia
Tree Grower

http://www.forestry.uga.edu/h/feature/carterforest

The flowers make a high quality honey
the seeds are very sensitive to fungi
root cuttings are the easiest way to propagate

To me they seem to grow best in zones 6-7
They did not like my deep sand in Tuckahoe.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Beautiful Tree That Shows a Sinister Side

I saw a little clip on how to plant empress trees. They mixed the seed with dry instent mashed patatos, then sprinkeld the mixture on the servace of peatmoss or potting soil, kept them damp in a shaded area, they germanated in just a few days. Even though they got moldy they still germanated.

I also Like the Idea of the fast growth of these trees. I wanted to grow for their lumber. I tried growing from seed planted 50 all sprouted came up grew to about an inch tall and them suddenly keeled over and died did as told how to start them and every thing. any one have any idea what could cause this? any advise appreciated. thanks Leroy.

Different tree to different methods!

I grew some from seed last year. I put them on top of potting compost and then sprinkled a layer of fish tank gravel over the top. I now have about 15 plants each a foot tall. I got the seeds from my neighbor and her tree is about 10-15 years old and about 15-20 feet tall. There are several different varieties of Empress tree and not all are invasive.