Saturday, December 21, 2013

By Harriett Crosby


The royal paulownia tree is an ancient Chinese tree that was named for Anna Paulownia, wife of King Willem of the Netherlands. It is known for the large blossoms and fragrant aroma that can be enjoyed from early spring to mid-summer. It is highly prized in Japan for its hardwood and has traditional value also.

When a daughter is born to a Japanese family they plant one of these trees for her. When she gets married the tree is cut down to create her wedding chest. Another legend says that if the tree is planted close to the house a phoenix will pass near and good fortune follows. You can find at least one item of furniture from this tree in nearly every Japanese home.

The Chinese are the biggest producers of this tree but it has taken hold in American markets as well. The amazing growth of this tree makes it a valuable asset. It can grow up from a sapling to eighteen feet tall in one year's time. Tree farms are becoming very popular for harvesting and sale to Japan for processing into furniture and toys.

Americans have also accepted the species as a nursery item. The promise of fast growth and large decorative blossoms make them a popular item for yards and parks. The leaves are also beneficial for industrial countries. Because of the fur like nature of them they attract and hold smog particles as well as dust and smoke.

The seed pods of this tree can produce thousands of seeds every year. There is some concern about it breaking out into the wild and becoming a weed tree. It propagates itself very easily in areas that have been disturbed by fire or landslides. They grow very well on hill sides that are moist and sunny. They have zero shade tolerance and will not grow in the shade of other trees.

Planting one close to your home is not a good idea. The branches of the tree tend to bend and break easily in strong winds. The breakage causes hazards to property and people and even if the tree stands alone it will create a mess in the trunk area. This species is very hardy in temperate growth areas but is sensitive to frost and ice. A frost resistant seed base has been developed for the colder areas where it is grown.

This wood is very popular for manufacturing surf boards and many nautical items. It can be burnt for heat or as feedstock for generation of steam which is turned into electricity. There are medicinal uses for the leaves also. By crushing and processing the leaves they can be used to cleanse infected ulcers and other skin ailments. It can also kill warts and help with growing hair.

The royal paulownia tree shows great promise as a new source of revenue for North America. The fast growth and easy propagation has opened markets abroad as well as at home. There is already a growing export market to Japan for cut trees that will be made into furniture and toys for that nation. There are also markets in North America for live trees as well as for cut wood to be used for manufacturing and other domestic uses.




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