Paulownia 'Fast Blue' – A Fast-Growing Tree with Stunning Spring Blooms and Unique Foliage
Paulownia 'Fast Blue' is a remarkable ornamental tree known for its rapid growth, striking violet-blue flowers, and large, heart-shaped leaves. Often referred to as the “Princess Tree,” this variety is prized for its impressive spring blooms and vibrant green foliage, making it a bold choice for gardens, parks, and urban landscapes.
Seasonal Beauty & Growth
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Spring: In spring, Paulownia 'Fast Blue' bursts into life with large clusters of trumpet-shaped, violet-blue flowers. These stunning blooms create a striking contrast against the emerging green leaves, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making it a valuable addition to any pollinator-friendly garden.
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Summer: The tree’s large, heart-shaped leaves are bright green and provide a dense, broad canopy, offering excellent shade. The foliage remains fresh and vibrant throughout the summer, adding texture and form to the landscape.
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Autumn: As the season shifts, Paulownia 'Fast Blue' provides a gentle autumn display with its leaves turning golden-yellow before they drop. The vibrant summer foliage gives way to a more subtle, but still attractive, autumn presence.
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Winter: In winter, the tree’s distinctive branching structure becomes more noticeable, with its smooth, grey bark and large, open silhouette. While the tree is dormant during the winter months, its unique form and structure continue to provide visual interest in the landscape.
Structure & Form
Paulownia 'Fast Blue' is a fast-growing, medium to large-sized tree, typically reaching a height of 10–15m (33–49ft) with a spread of 8–12m (26–39ft). It has an upright, pyramidal form in its youth, gradually becoming more rounded and spreading as it matures. The tree’s large size and impressive foliage make it a striking focal point in large gardens, parks, and open spaces.
Ideal for Various Landscapes
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Large Gardens & Estates: Due to its size and fast-growing nature, 'Fast Blue' is best suited for larger gardens and estates where it can grow to its full potential without overcrowding.
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Specimen Tree: With its bold spring blooms, large foliage, and fast-growing nature, 'Fast Blue' makes an excellent specimen tree, providing year-round beauty and structure to any garden or park.
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Pollinator Gardens: The early spring flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.
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Urban Landscapes: While it’s a larger tree, Paulownia 'Fast Blue' is a great option for spacious urban landscapes, where its rapid growth and impressive presence can fill expansive areas with colour and texture.
Growing Conditions & Care
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Position: Thrives in full sun to partial shade. For the best flowering and growth, plant in a sunny location, although it can tolerate some light shade.
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Soil: Prefers well-drained soils but is adaptable to a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal.
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Hardiness: Fully hardy, Paulownia 'Fast Blue' is well-suited to temperate climates and can withstand colder temperatures, though it may require some protection in extremely harsh winters.
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Maintenance: While fast-growing, 'Fast Blue' requires minimal maintenance once established. Prune lightly in winter or early spring to maintain shape and remove dead or damaged wood. It benefits from regular watering during dry periods, especially in the early years of growth.
Why Choose Paulownia 'Fast Blue'?
Paulownia 'Fast Blue' is an exceptional tree known for its rapid growth, vibrant spring blooms, and bold foliage. Its large size and striking appearance make it a perfect choice for larger gardens and landscapes that need an attention-grabbing feature. With minimal care and maximum visual impact, this tree is ideal for those looking for a dramatic, fast-growing addition to their garden or park.
Perfect Plant Combinations
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Other Ornamental Trees – Pair with Acer (Maple) or Gleditsia triacanthos (Honeylocust) for contrasting foliage and form.
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Flowering Shrubs – Combine with Forsythia or Rhododendron for complementary spring blooms.
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Perennials & Grasses – Underplant with Daylilies, Hostas, or Lavender for contrasting textures and colours.
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Spring Bulbs – Complement with Crocus, Daffodils (Narcissus), or Tulips for a vibrant early-season display as the tree comes into bloom.
Paulownia 'Fast Blue' is a truly striking tree that brings vibrant spring colour, fast growth, and large, beautiful foliage to the landscape. Ideal for larger gardens, parks, and open spaces, this tree will thrive with minimal care while providing exceptional visual impact and seasonal interest. Whether as a specimen tree or part of a larger planting scheme, 'Fast Blue' is sure to make a bold statement in any landscape.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
