Paulownia tomentosa, sometimes called the Foxglove tree, is grown in tropical style gardens for it’s enormous leaves that can get to 30cm long. It’s common name of Foxglove tree comes from the flowers which bare a slight resemblance to the flowers of the perennial foxglove.
Although the plant is hardy the pale purple flowers do not always form in the UK because the flower buds do not over winter very well in temperatures seen in a Uk winter. Should the buds be kept frost free then the flowers will form in April to May.
To get the big leaves Paulownia tomentosa must be cut down quite hard. If left to its own devices the plant can grow into a 12m whopper but not grow particularly big leaves.
How to propagate
Paulownia tomentosa can be grown from cuttings, root cuttings or from seed. Trees grown from cuttings is the quickest way to get a decent sized plant. Just cut a 30cm young shoot with a diagonal cut and push it in to some potting compost. Water well and keep in a frost free place at a coolish temperature over winter.
