Paulownia Tree

Paulo what?

The Paulownia is a species of tree of the Paulowniaceae family which is native to Asia. It is used as an ornamental tree for its beautiful purple flowers, as well as for lumber. There are many species of Paulownia, the most common being Paulownia tomentosa, Paulownia elongata and Paulownia fortunei, from which hybrids are created to combine the characteristics of several species.

Cultural roots

In China, the Paulownia is traditionally associated with the phoenix and the empress. According to mythical beliefs, the phoenix could only land on a Paulownia tree. These two images represent symbols of the East, and the Paulownia tree can be found as a pattern on the clothing of the imperial family dating back to the 11th century. Paulownia can also be found within traditional practices of certain regions of China, for example where the tree would be planted when a girl was born. The tree would then be cut down at her wedding, the wood serving as a dowry.

In Japan, the leaves of Paulownias have been used as an emblem since the 1300s to honor important figures. These leaves then came to symbolize the office of the Japanese Prime Minister, and then the Order of the Rising Sun, a high decoration of honor founded in 1875 and awarded by the Japanese government.

In Europe, the Paulownia was named as such in reference to Anna Pavlovna, queen of the Netherlands.

Its unique characteristics

The Paulownia is characterized by a deep and wide root system, which allows it to stabilize the soil and easily coexist with other plant species.

Photosynthesis is what allows the Paulownia tree to grow: its structure comes from the CO₂ it takes in. Thanks to its very large leaves this tree can absorb up to 55 kg of CO₂ per year, which is up to 10 times the absorption of some other common species of trees.

What’s more, the Paulownia is unique in the way it absorbs carbon dioxide. Thanks to an optimized biological mechanism, which it shares with only 3% of known plants, the Paulownia can capture and transform CO₂ much more efficiently than most of plants.

And that's not all, the Paulownia not only sequesters more carbon than other plants, but it also produces on average 4 times more oxygen than conventional species. Which makes it a real air purifier.

This tree is remarkable for its speed of growth: it gains 3m per year, against 0.5m per year for an oak, the Paulownia therefore reaches 20 meters in about 7 years. Once cut, it grows back on its own with the same characteristics, up to 6 times.

Paulownia is resistant to wide environmental conditions (between -30 and + 40°C) and humidity, it is even a natural fire barrier. However, it remains sensitive to strong winds, hail and spray.

This tree is modular: it can have a developed canopy, which is useful for agroforestry with animals, as well as a very small canopy, ideal for crops. Finally, it generates very little energy expenditure.

Our varieties of Paulownias O

The Paulownias we use are designed by our European partners for the temperate climate, wildly spread in Europe. These hybrids are developed in such a way as to meet ecological challenges by preventing uncontrolled propagation of the tree; and economical challenges by promoting the production of optimal quality wood for industry. Designed for agroforestry, our trees do not compete for nutrients against the crops.

We mainly use the following three Paulownia varieties:

WeGrow Nordmax 21©, a genetic crossing between Paulownia Tomentosa and Fortunei, this hybrid is especially resistant to low temperatures (down to -22°C) and frost, which makes this tree suitable for cold climates. In addition, its growth is straight and uniform, resulting in high and reliable wood yields.
WeGrow Phoenix One©, a hybrid between Paulownia Elongata and Fortunei, is adapted to warm regions. Believed to be the strongest Paulownia, it is characterised by a wide trunk and a homogeneous, straight and compact growth. In addition, its harvesting cycles are very short (can be cut after 5 to 7 years).
WeGrow H2F3/H2F4©, this new hybrid variety is resulting from a cross between Paulownia Catalpifolia and Fortunei, has the particularity of growing very quickly, up to 6m in the first year, before thickening in the following years. This characteristic makes it suitable for areas with low wind speeds. Its fast, straight and homogeneous growth and low side branching reduces the need for maintenance and increases its overall profitability considerably.

Pests and parasites of the Paulownia tree

Generally speaking, the Paulownia easily adapts to its environment. But like all species, it can be exposed to various diseases. Fungi constitute the main risks to the growth of the tree, for example:

Powdery mildew, which can be identified by the whitish deposit it leaves on the leaves
Verticillium wilt and armillaria that attack the vascular system of the tree
Canker which can attack the branches and create lesions

Keeping aphids at bay is also essential as they are carriers of the cucumber mosaic virus which causes deformations of the tree.

To date, the only known animal that is capable of attacking the Paulownia is the wireworm. Present on agricultural land in Europe, this larva attacks the roots of Paulownia, causing the tree to weaken. However, by adopting good agricultural practices, we can mitigate the risks of this pesky invader.

Wireworm

A variety of uses

The above-mentioned characteristics make this wood a truly versatile material. Its resistant and insulating properties make Paulownia wood ideal for use in construction work, for building housing framework, hardwood floors, furniture and even ceilings.

Thanks to its limited absorption of moisture and its resistance to atmospheric agents, Paulownia wood can be used in the production of surfboards, skis, snowboards, saunas, but also in shipbuilding (sailing boats) and aeronautics.

Its light weight, flexibility, insulating and soundproofing properties also allow Paulownia wood to be used in the design of musical instruments, beehives, wooden toys.

The different above-mentioned characteristics also offer the opportunity to use Paulownia wood for a variety of unique uses, including the manufacture of barrels for wine, aqueducts in rural areas and many kitchen utensils (bowls, spoons, etc.).

Post-cut, the parts of the tree that cannot be utilized for craftsmanship can be transformed into heating pellets. Due to its specific properties, Paulownia wood has many advantages for use as fuel: during combustion, Paulownia pellets release 3 times more energy than the most common alternatives (pine, acacia, fir, etc.) … all while emitting 10 to 50 times less CO₂.

And that's not all!

The benefits of the Paulownia tree however are not limited to its wood. Throughout its growth phase, our trees offer a multitude of valuable co-products, including its leaves.

Paulownia leaves are rich in protein, fiber and microelements, which means they can be used for animal feed. In addition, in the context of a silvopastoral farming model, various plant species intended for feed can be planted between the trees so that cattle can graze.

In addition, the high Flavonoid content, also called vitamin P, gives Paulownia leaves and flowers anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant and antioxidant properties. They are most notably used in Asia for medical and cosmetic care (acne, anti-aging products, etc.).

Paulownia trees allow for the production of quality honey as they are highly appreciated by bees. Clear and light, Paulownia honey is very fragrant, but its benefits go beyond flavor! The presence of active substances in the flowers make this honey a real natural remedy. It is recognized for its ability to improve digestion as well as to treat various respiratory pathologies such as bronchitis.

The advantages of Paulownia wood

Paulownia wood is said to be semi-precious, which places it in the category of rare cabinetmaking wood used for the production of functional or decorative furniture. The absence of knots and veins in its trunk makes Paulownia wood easy to work with.

As it is extremely resistant (against breakage, compression, high temperatures), Paulownia wood is often used in major as well as finishing works, such as for housing framework, plywood, etc.

Flexible and lightweight, Paulownia wood is also an ideal choice for small woodworking projects requiring these two characteristics.