Royal Empress Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on February 14, 2022

Planting instructions

Finding a location to plant a royal empress tree is not difficult. This species can survive in differing degrees of sun exposure and in a variety of soil conditions. What’s most helpful to remember is that the canopy of the royal empress tree spreads quickly, so you should give it plenty of room to do so. When this tree grows too close to a structure or pavement, its vigorous roots can do some serious damage. At planting time, dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and twice as wide. Ensure good soil drainage and provide plenty of water.

Watering and nutrients

Regular watering is essential to the development of your royal empress tree. This is especially true just after planting while it is attempting to establish itself in its new location. Water it once per week or more during the active growing season.

Like most trees, royal empress trees thrive in soil that is rich in organic matter and nutrients. Amending soil with compost or a similar material is an excellent way to give your tree the fuel it needs to grow. A monthly application of nitrogen-rich fertilizer can also be beneficial.

Pruning

One of the downsides of this tree’s rapid growth rate is that it can be weak-wooded at times. That weakness often leads to breakage. Fortunately, you can use pruning to help strengthen the form of your royal empress tree.

Prune in early spring and remove any branches that are broken or dead. Because this tree has such a vigorous growth habit, you can prune it hard. As long as you leave the main trunk and a few primary branches, your tree will most likely survive your pruning cuts.

Pests, diseases, and animals

You should not expect to have any problems with pests or diseases with a royal empress tree. Part of what makes these trees so invasive is that they are resilient and have few growing concerns.

However, there are some threats you should look out for. For example, if you value the flowers of this tree, you’ll want to protect it from the winter wind. Because the buds emerge in early spring, a late winter storm could freeze them in the absence of protection.

Achieving maximum results

In many states, the royal empress tree is one of the worst invasive species. Its seeds are plentiful and spread easily. For that reason, you should avoid doing further environmental harm by deciding against planting this tree if it is invasive where you live.

If this tree is not invasive where you live, you can enjoy all the advantages it has to offer. For instance, its flowers are not only incredibly visually appealing but also edible. Try adding them to your salads or any other dish you like.

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