Paulownia

The Fastest Growing Hardwood Tree in the World !

General Information

Family -- Scrophulariaceae.

Genus -- Paulownia.

Species -- Fortunei, Kawakamji, Tomentosa,

Taiwaniana, Songata, Fargesil,

Catalpifia.

Common name for genus:

Empress tree

Royal Paulownia

Royal Princess tree

Cotton tree

Kiri (Japan)

T'ung (China)

About Paulownia

The Paulownia is a fast growing broadleaf, flowering, deciduous tree which requires a large amount of light and water. It is also a hardy tree that can withstand winter, and early spring frost, to minus 10 degrees, and enjoys temperatures above 100 degrees. Paulownia is excellent for quickly transforming the landscape with its fast growth, lush foliage and prolific flowering.

The Paulownia grows vigorously over the Spring and Summer months, reaching heights of up to 19 feet in the first year . Growth slows in Autumn as the tree hardens and thickens. Once established the Paulownia has a vertical deep root system extending 6 feet beneath the ground.

Paulownias tend to shoot up as a single stem in the first year, producing few substantial side branches. In the second year of growth, small branch buds appear right up the trunk, immediately above where the leaf axle has broken away in the first season. The Paulownia will produce flowers in its second or third year of growth, the buds are formed in the late summer. It will flower before or during the re-emergence of the new Spring foliage.

Paulownia

The Fastest Growing Hardwood Tree in the World !

Characteristics of the Wood:

· Lightweight (14 to 18 lbs. per cubic foot)

· Strong

· Outstanding resonant qualities.

· Extremely stable (resists warp/crack/deform)

· Light color; silky smooth finish

· Grain: fine, straight, knot-free

· Easy to work. (no chipping or tear-out in planing)

· Does not require kiln drying

· Takes stains well

Paulownia Advantages:

1. Water sensitive roots will not invade sewer or water pipes

2. The ornamental beauty of the Paulownia is displayed in its cascades of blue to pink shades of blossoms (depending on the species) for 4 to 6 weeks during the spring, and these flowers produce excellent honey.

3. The Paulownia can be coppiced (harvest the tree by cutting it off near ground level and another tree will begin to grow from the same root system).

4. When the root-ball of Paulownia is harvested, the remaining root system will produce from 40 to 60 root cuttings.

5. The wood is a lightweight hardwood, straight-grained, free of knots, very stable, light in color, easy to work (mill, sand, carve, etc.), and very easy to dry and with less drying defects.

6. In autumn, the fallen leaves can be used as nutrient-rich stock feed, or as a component of high-grade compost to enrich the soil.

7. Paulownia Timber as a sustainable lumber source can be used for furniture, veneer, doors & windows, musical instruments, picture frames, toys, fishing net floats, and much more.

Leaves:

· Mulch and soil amendment

· Fodder -- Nutritional value similar to alfalfa: appropriate fodder for cattle, goats, sheep, and rabbits, with a protein level of 20% with 60% digestibility. Shade -- The value of shade, particularly for intercropping purposes, is difficult to put a value on, however, is certainly one of its more priceless aspects.

· Air Purification -- Leaves are nitrogen fixing and very large. The size of the leaves "inhale" correspondingly large amounts of carbon dioxide and "exhale" large amounts of oxygen

· Healthcare -- A decoction of Paulownia leaves have been used in China to manage the delirium of typhoid fever, a wash for sores, and to cure swollen ankles and feet.

· Mushroom compost -- Abalone mushrooms can be grown in a medium made from Paulownia leaf mulch for growing in sheds during summer months.

Seeds and Flowers:

· Honey production

· Beautification

· Aroma and fragrance

· Packaging material (seeds)

· Herbal medication -- Flowers are used to cure ailments of the liver or bile, which cause dizziness. Strangely enough, when the flowers are mixed with scrambled eggs, a medication for treating bronchitis is produced.