Pros & Cons for Paulownia Trees The Paulownia tree is native to China. Its botanical name is Paulownia tomentosa but it is commonly referred to as the princess or empress tree. They grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness zones 5 to 9. One of these trees, a 70-foot specimen growing in Farmersville, California, is listed on the California Registry of Big Trees. These are deciduous trees, meaning they drop their leaves in the fall and grow new leaves in the spring. Easy to Grow Paulownia trees grow fast, putting on more than 2 feet of height each year. They quickly mature into a 30- to 40-foot-tall shade tree with a canopy width of 30 to 40 feet. Soil type is not important for this tree as long as it is not heavy clay that drains slowly. The soil pH can be acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline. This tree is drought-tolerant after it gets established and is not bothered by air pollution. Desirable Attributes In zones 6 though 9 the princess ...