[2] They are a monophyletic and monogeneric family of trees with currently 7 confirmed species.

[5] The Paulowniaceae are now resolved as a distinct separate family consisting of the genus Paulownia.

They are deciduous trees with large heart shaped leaves and long panicles of white-purple to lavender flowers native to eastern Asia.

[3] Paulowniaceae is sister to the Orobanchaceae, a primarily hemi-holoparasitic plant family, except for the clade of herbaceous genera Lindenbergia, Rehmannia, and Triaenophora.

As of August 2017[update], The Plant List accepted four genera in the family.