Paulownia

Paulownia (also known as the Princess Tree, Phoenix Tree, Royal Empress Tree, Kiri) is arguably the fastest growing hardwood in the world: If grown under correct conditions, it can reach a height of 4 metres (12 ft) in 6 months, and at just 5 years old the tree is harvestable for the production of sawn lumber.

Paulownia is native to much of China, south to northern Laos and Vietnam, and long cultivated elsewhere in eastern Asia, notably in Japan and Korea. Paulownia is an adaptable, fast growing and multi-purpose agroforestry tree species. It plays a critical role in providing timber, fuel wood, fodder and food to Chinese farmers, especially in the North Central Plain area. One of the most versatile timbers in existence, Paulownia’s popularity in the West is booming, particularly for the production of furniture, plywood and biomass.

Timber Properties and Value

Known in the industry as the “Aluminium of timbers”, Paulownia is 30% lighter than any comparable hardwood, it is twist, shrink and warp resistant and virtually rot free. Its fine grained properties make Paulownia wood exceptionally suited for making wooden surfboards, boats, pallets and household furniture as well as plywood, prefabricated houses, moldings and internal construction panels. Paulownia is also being grown as a sustainable, Carbon neutral source of bio-fuel, a crucial step towards solving the global energy crisis.

Environmental Properties and Value

The Paulownia Tree naturally regenerates from existing root systems, earning it the nickname the Phoenix Tree. This means that up to four rotations of timber growth and harvest can be made, without the need for major soil preparation or replanting, in the time it would take a Teak tree to reach just one harvest. The Paulownia tree has an extremely high combustion temperature, which makes it virtually fire-proof, has no known diseases and resists drought once mature. Fast growth and enormous leaves facilitate Paulownia’s immense capacity for Carbon absorption, and its deep running root system gives it the ability to reclaim ecologically stressed land. Paulownia’ deep roots also improve soil quality and maintain underground water systems.

The Paulownia Elongate used in Silva Tree’s projects is a cloned tree which cannot multiply, therefore it is not an invasive species anywhere in the world.

View Paulownia elongata and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.