Paulownia kawakamii

"Sapphire dragon" redirects here. For the Dungeons & Dragons dragon, see Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons) § Sapphire dragon.

Paulownia kawakamii, commonly known as the sapphire dragon tree,^[2] is a tree species in the family Paulowniaceae.

Paulownia kawakamii
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Paulowniaceae
Genus:	Paulownia
Species:	P. kawakamii
Binomial name
Paulownia kawakamii Ito

The tree is native to Taiwan, eastern China, and Japan. It is deciduous and bears many large violet flowers in early spring before the leaves appear.

Paulownia kawakamii is an IUCN Red List critically endangered plant species, that is threatened by habitat destruction in its native range.^[1][3]

Cultivation

Paulownia kawakamii is cultivated by plant nurseries, for use as an ornamental tree. In Southern California it is reported to be deep-rooted, and generally does not lift adjacent pavement.^[4]