Paulownia fortunei Fast Blue ('Minfast')

RHS Plant Profile

paulownia [Fast Blue]

RHS

Synonyms

Paulownia fortunei 'Minfast'
Paulownia tomentosa 'Fast Blue'
Paulownia fortunei 'Fast Blue'

Trees

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A fast-growing tree with a pyramidal habit reaching to 8m tall. Large, ovate to heart-shaped leaves have hairy undersides and are up to 20cm across. Upright panicles of fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers are borne in spring and are lilac-blue outside and creamy-white inside with a yellow throat

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Paulowniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Paulownia are deciduous trees with large, ovate leaves and erect panicles of foxglove-like flowers in spring; they can also be coppiced for extra-large leaves at expense of flowers
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Protect flower buds and young growth of small plants from hard frosts by growing in a sheltered position. Grow for foliage effect only by cutting back young shoots hard in spring which results in production of very large leaves up to 60cm across

Propagation

Propagate by root cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or Pruning group 7 for foliage effect

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus