Grow empress tree from seed by sowing the tiny winged seed on the surface and giving it light. A deep cover is the usual reason a tray stays blank.
Sow the tiny seed on the surface, and give it light
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Collect | Brown capsules in early fall, before they dump the seed | Waiting until the capsules have already split on the tree |
| Sow | On the surface of moist mix, in bright light | Burying the seed, or sowing it in the dark |
| Moisture | Keep the surface evenly moist until the root takes | Letting the surface dry even once while the seed is sprouting |
Each capsule of Empress tree holds thousands of flat, winged seeds. Gather the pods when they turn brown, dry them, and crush them so the seed falls free. [1] [2] Scatter a pinch on moist mix and do not cover it. Fresh seed needs a long stretch of light to germinate, so a clear cover or a bright bench matters more than a deep sowing. [3] Check local rules before you multiply it, because the same winged seed is why the tree spreads. [4] A grown-plant plan stays on How to Grow Empress Tree.
- Collect brown capsules in early fall, dry them, and crush them over a tray.
- Fill a pot or flat with a sandy, draining mix, and moisten it.
- Sow the seed on the surface. Do not bury it.
- Set the tray in bright light, and keep the surface moist until seedlings stand.
- Thin to the strongest plants, then grow them on until they are sturdy enough to plant out after frost.
Do I cover empress tree seed?
No. Sow it on the surface. Light is what wakes fresh seed.
Store dry seed cold; chill it only if you must sow in the dark
Dry seed holds in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for a year or two. Fresh seed still wants light. A cool, moist chill for several weeks is only useful if you have to sow where light is poor, because that chill lowers the light need. Use fresh seed when you can, and keep the surface from drying while the first root forms.
- Store cleaned, dry seed in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.
- Sow in spring on a bright bench, still on the surface.
- If you cannot give light, give the seed a cool moist chill for several weeks first, then sow it shallow and keep it moist.
Does empress tree seed need a cold period?
Not if you can give it light. Chill it only when the sowing spot is dark.
If the tray never greens, the seed was probably buried or left in the dark. Sow it on the surface next time, and keep that surface moist.
FAQ
Should I start from seed or a nursery tree?
Buy a nursery tree if you want a landscape plant this year. Seed is easy, but the seedlings are soft until after frost.
Can I grow empress tree from a stem cutting?
Home clones are usually root cuttings, not twigs. That method is on Propagating Empress Tree.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension -
https://publications.ca.uky.edu/sites/publications.ca.uky.edu/files/for39.htm - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/paulownia-tomentosa/ - [3] University of Maryland Extension -
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/princess-tree-empress-tree - [4] Elisabeth C. Miller Library -
https://depts.washington.edu/hortlib/pal/on-propagating-paulownia/
This note is part of Paulownia Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors