The glowing description of Royal Empress tree sounds wonderful, but I heard somewhere that they drop messy fruit and spring up new little trees all around. Is this true? Please answer and include any other things that may be a downside of this tree. What about cleaning up very big leaves when they drop in fall?
In some areas (especially the South), this tree is considered invasive and a nuisance, spreading (by suckers or seed sprouting) where it is not wanted. Many have hollow trunks, making them susceptible to storm damage. Not a good tree for privacy. Yes, they do drop many leaves in fall and fruit, which looks messy and can require a lot of clean up. In fact, they leaf out late and drop leaves early.The seed pods cling to the tree, which can also be unsightly.
What do I need to do to get the maximum growth out of my Empress trees? They are almost 4' tall. I planted them to hide an eyesore we have behind our home. If they need any special care at all, please include that in your answer.
The following article should be of some help to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/royal-empress/worlds-fastest-growing-shade-tree.htm
Last year our Empress tree was covered in flies eating away at the leaves.
I have a hunch your empress tree was covered in whiteflies. For more information on whiteflies and a course of treatment, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/whitefly-control.htm
For more information on the care of empress trees, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/royal-empress/worlds-fastest-growing-shade-tree.htm
use a systemic insecticide like bayer. apply to the ground under the tree's drip edge. water it in heavily.
My tree comes back but grows from the bottom, nothing on the established branches. Should this tree be cut each fall? The branches sound hollow.
I suspect your tree actually may have died, and your just getting growth from below the graft line.
Royal Empress is a fast growing tree and should actually grow 4 to 6 feet each growing season.
Here is a link about Royal Empress.
How do I remove and transplant a purple empress tree that is growing out of the roots of an ash tree? I have 2 purple empress trees growing to close to my house and growing from the roots of an ash tree. How do I move it?
Here is a link with information to help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/transplanting-trees.htm
My empress tree looks shabby. Not many leaves but it was fine. It was bought in 2007, so you know it is very tall. Last year I called the company where I bought the empress tree. It was great until this year. Some small branches are bare and there is not a lot of leaves this year. The company said to contact you. They said it was probably because the weather was so strange this season and that a lot of trees are like that. Should I buy tree stakes to fertilize it? This tree is very tall. The shoots that come off the main branches don"t seem to have any leaves only bare looking. I hope you you have an answer. Thanks.
The wonky weather could definitely be an issue. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/tree-leafing-problems.htm
I have a 3 year old Empress tree. I believe it was from sterile environment, as it has not grown but 10 inches in 3 years. I would like to know if I can propagate a new growth branch from it and how. Thank you.
Root cutings are the easiest way to propagate this tree. The following video should help with that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ptVTqaGjQ
As for the poor growth of the current tree, are its growing requirements being met? How is the soil? It requires full sun in moist, but well-draining soil. It is unusual that after three years it has only grown a mere ten inches.