Yes, Paulownia elongata 'Futuro' is fully hardy across most of the UK, taking temperatures down to around -15C once established (roughly RHS H5). The roots are very tough, and even if a hard winter cuts back young top growth the plant usually reshoots strongly from the base in spring.

Grown on as a tree it reaches around 8-12 m tall with a 5-8 m spread over many years, as it is one of the fastest-growing trees in the world. If you coppice or pollard it hard each spring it stays a shrubby 2-3 m but produces enormous, dramatic leaves.

The lilac, foxglove-like flowers form on the previous season's wood, so they only appear on mature trees that have been left unpruned over winter. If you coppice the plant each year for big foliage you trade the flowers for the leaves; grow it on as a standard tree in a warm, sunny spot and flowers will follow as it matures.

Absolutely. Cutting the stems back hard to a low framework in early spring (coppicing or pollarding) channels all the vigour into a few shoots, producing leaves that can be 40-60 cm or more across. This is a popular way to use it for a bold, tropical effect in smaller gardens.

Paulownia is generally regarded as low toxicity and is not listed among the seriously dangerous garden plants for cats and dogs. As with any plant it is sensible to discourage pets from chewing the foliage, and the fine hairs on young growth can irritate sensitive skin.

We always aim to make sure our customers love our products, but if you do need to return an order within 14 days of purchase (not including plants*), or any items are damaged, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly at hello@growtropicals.com, and we’ll take you through the process. 

Please note: we cannot be held liable for any packaging costs should the original packaging be discarded.

*Unfortunately we cannot accept returns of undamaged plants as these are perishable items and are not saleable upon return. If a plant is damaged, we will compensate for this as per our live arrival guarantee.

When placing your order, you can choose from three dispatch speeds to suit your needs: Economy (prepared and shipped within 4-5 days), Standard (3-5 days), or Express (dispatched the very next day). Please keep in mind that "dispatch" refers to the time it takes our team to prepare and pack your items before handing them over to the courier, not the total delivery time.

Shipping costs are based on your total order value and will be calculated at checkout, with free shipping automatically applied to all orders over £60. For a full breakdown of shipping prices please see our help center here.

Additionally, to protect the health and quality of our live plants, orders containing plants are exclusively shipped Monday through Thursday. This careful scheduling prevents your plants from being stuck in a dark shipping depot over the weekend, ensuring they arrive at your door vibrant and healthy.