Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is in the foxglove tree family family (Paulowniaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 882 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Princess Tree: observations by month (U.S.)
About Princess Tree
Paulownia tomentosa (common names princesstree, foxglove-tree, empress tree or kiri) is a deciduous tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to central and western China. Paulownia tomentosa is an extremely fast-growing tree, and is a persistent exotic invasive in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Princess Tree by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 191 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 122 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 107 | May | Apr–May |
| New York | 98 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 67 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 61 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 45 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 39 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 33 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 19 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 17 | April | Apr–May |
| District of Columbia | 17 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 15 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Mississippi | 12 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Delaware | 11 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 5 | June | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 5 | April | Mar–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Princess Tree?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Princess Tree most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland.