princess tree

noun

1. a Chinese tree, Paulownia tomentosa, of the bignonia family, having hairy leaves and clusters of fragrant, violet flowers, naturalized in the eastern U.S.

Word History and Origins

Origin of princess tree¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

The princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa, is a fast-growing, coarse-leafed tree with showy exotic blooms that belie its hardiness.

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Lacy never forgot his roots in Depression-era Texas, and in his prose he projects a person who is a realist and averse to fulsomeness, the princess tree notwithstanding.

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The place to eat here is on the back patio, under the shade of the giant princess tree, whose limbs and oversized heart-shaped leaves cover much of the dining area.

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