Princess Tree

Graz

Originally native to China, the tree is found in Japan (called ‘Kiri’ there), Korea, North America and Europe, especially in parks. The princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) was brought to Europe in the 19th century by the German botanist and physician Franz von Siebold and named after the Dutch crown princess and later Queen Anna (Pavlovna), a daughter of Russian Tsar Paul I. The ‘Paulownia’ became the favourite tree of Emperor Franz Joseph I and was therefore also known as the ‘Emperor’s Tree’ and was planted in many parts of the Habsburg Monarchy.