The Paulownia plant is a representative of the family of the same name, which is also called the Adam's tree. Previously, paulownia was referred to as the Norichnikovs or Bignonievs. The genus includes several species, including semi-evergreen or deciduous trees.
The name of the plants was given by the German scientist von Siebold, who brought their seeds from Japan to European countries. He dedicated his find to Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of the Romanov family, who became the ruler of the Netherlands. But the genus "Anna" already existed, so the trees were mistakenly named after the princess's patronymic, counting it for another name. The plant is called "Adam's tree" because of the large foliage that resembles a fig. In addition, paulownia is known as the Chinese, dragon or imperial tree, or the princess tree.
Paulownia grows in the subtropics. Most often they can be found on the territory of China (this country is considered their homeland) or Japan. The Japanese consider such trees one of their national symbols: images of their flowers and foliage can even be found on coins and orders. A beautiful tree there is called "kiri" and is considered a symbol of good luck. In addition, paulownia are found in Korea, Vietnam and other East Asian countries. There they grow on moist soil, meeting on the plains.
Paulownia is a beautifully flowering tall tree that develops at a very fast pace. Due to its high decorativeness, such plantings can be found in gardens and parks in warm regions. Some paulownia species can be grown in temperate climates. In addition to its attractiveness, Adam's tree has a good effect on the environment and has valuable wood that can be used both for the manufacture of various items and in construction. Due to the strength and lightness of this material, musical instruments, furniture, and also sports equipment are made from it.
Description of paulownia
The paulownia tree has a straight trunk with a maximum thickness of up to 1 meter, covered with plates of grayish bark. In its homeland, such a plant can reach impressive sizes, stretching up to 20 m in height. At the same time, the paulownia taproot goes to a depth of 5-9 m. But in the middle lane the trees are more miniature in size. Due to the peculiarities of the climate, they begin to branch and take the form of a tall bush with a rounded or elongated crown.
The large, wide foliage of the paulownia has the shape of a delta, heart, or weak blades. It is located oppositely on the branches, holding on to long petioles. On the outside, the leaf blades have a fibrous pubescent surface, and on the wrong side, the pubescence becomes tomentose. The foliage is green. In this case, the dimensions of each sheet can reach 70 cm.It is noteworthy that huge plates appear already on young trees with thin trunks, which are not yet a year old. This feature gives paulownia a very unusual look. In the fall, trees shed their foliage before it turns brown. The color changes already on the ground.
Paulownia looks most elegant during the flowering period. Its fragrant flowers bloom before the leaf buds open, around the second half of March. They form panicle inflorescences located vertically on the branches. Each includes up to 15 bell-shaped flowers about 5 cm in size. They have a pink-lilac, lilac or cream color and have long stamens. The plant is considered a honey plant - the honey obtained from it resembles acacia. Flowering lasts up to 1.5 months. After its completion, greenish-brown fruits with a thickness of about 1 cm are formed on the paulownia. Small seeds with wings are formed in them.
The rate of development of paulownia is striking no less than its size. These trees develop about 6 times faster than oak trees and under ideal conditions can grow by about 3-4 m per year.In the first couple of years of cultivation, paulownia already manages to turn into a slender tree, and from the 5th year of life, growth begins to slow down. The crown width of an adult tree reaches 3-6 m.
Despite the growth rate, paulownia live long enough - about 90 years. The frost resistance of these trees varies depending on the species. Among paulownias, there are both thermophilic plants that do not tolerate negative temperatures, and winter-hardy species that can withstand cold temperatures up to -30 degrees.
Planting paulownia in open ground
Landing
Paulownia will thrive best in a flat, bright area of the garden, sheltered from strong winds that can damage large foliage. Young plants can suffer especially noticeably from powerful impulses: as they grow, the size of the plates begins to gradually decrease.
Such a tree should be planted on the warmer, south or west side. In shade, the growth rate will slow down slightly and the leaves will become smaller. In addition, such plantings should be placed farther from other garden trees to avoid conflicts over nutrients. The soil can range from acidic to neutral, but soil that is too heavy for planting will not work. Sandy loam soil, loam or black soil is considered ideal. In lowlands and in corners with a high groundwater table, such trees are not planted.
It is recommended to plant paulownia older than 1 year in the ground. Such plants are more resistant to weather changes. For disembarkation, the time is chosen from mid-spring to mid-autumn. The seedling is placed in a pre-prepared 1 meter deep hole. Its diameter should be about 65 cm. The main thing is that the size of the pit should slightly exceed the size of the root system of the seedling. A drainage about 20 cm thick is laid at the bottom (small pebbles can be used), and a nutritious soil mixture is also poured. It is prepared from the soil remaining from digging a hole, mixed with leaf humus, rotted manure and mineral fertilizers (40 g). A young seedling will also need support, so a strong peg of sufficient height is immediately fixed in the pit during planting. After planting, the paulownia is properly watered (about 2 buckets for each seedling).
Growing from seeds
You can grow paulownia from seeds, but the germination of the seed lasts no more than a year. Sowing starts in January. Small seeds must be checked in advance in order to select the most viable ones. To do this, they are immersed in water and only those that will go to the bottom are selected for sowing. Such seeds are taken out of the water and laid out on a damp paper napkin, and covered with a film on top and placed in heat (about 22-25 degrees). The humidity of the napkins is monitored. Under these conditions, the seeds should hatch in a couple of weeks.
When the paulownia seeds begin to germinate, they are placed along with a napkin in a container with versatile fertile soil, including turf, peat and leafy soil. From above they are sprinkled with a layer of soil no more than 3 mm thick. If the seeds were not transferred to a napkin, but were left to float in water, the seedlings are carefully transferred into the ground with a toothpick. This method allows you to immediately distribute the seeds to individual cassettes. Until full-fledged sprouts appear, you need to keep the seedlings in a greenhouse, and also apply additional lighting. After 2-3 months, when the plants begin to touch the foliage, they are seated in 0.2 liter cups. After another month, they are transferred to large 2-liter pots. In warm areas, such plants can be transferred to the garden in the fall. If the seedlings will be hibernating indoors, ensure that they are sufficiently cool.
Paulownia care
Paulownia is considered an unpretentious tree that can adapt to many weather conditions, including drought or heat. But most species do not differ in frost resistance, so you should immediately choose the tree that is most suitable for growing. But even so, paulownia bloom can only be admired in coastal regions with very mild winters. Their buds are formed only on last year's lateral shoots, and in the middle lane the plants are frozen every year almost to the very root, growing again with the arrival of heat. Because of this, paulownia there more resembles not a tree, but an unusually tall grass, but it has even larger leaves than in warm countries. This size is provided by a developed root.
Watering
Despite the ability to withstand drought, young paulownia will need watering. They are carried out weekly during the entire growth period of the tree. Each plant will require a bucket of water. Without a sufficient amount of moisture, the foliage begins to hang, and in prolonged heat, it dries out along the edges, but after watering or rain, the decorative effect of the tree is restored.
Paulownia older than 3 years does not need to be watered, during this time their roots will go to a sufficient depth and grow significantly. Watering can only be carried out during especially prolonged drought. After each watering, the near-trunk circle is loosened to a depth of 7 cm and cleaned of weeds. You can mulch this area with peat or humus - this will help retain moisture in the soil and serve as additional fertilizing.
Top dressing
Paulownia is able to grow in poor soil, but still prefers a nutritious soil rich in humus. Young seedlings are usually fed twice a season. You can combine organic additives (mullein, bird droppings, humus or compost) with mineral additives. They are introduced in the form of a solution during watering. In the spring, nitrogen-containing compounds are used, in the fall - potassium-phosphorus ones.
Pruning
The trees withstand pruning well and recover quickly, although they usually do not need to be trimmed. Dry or diseased twigs are subject to removal. At the same time, paulownia is able to regrow even after complete felling or freezing of the aboveground part, forming a growth from the hemp. If paulownia has suffered from frost during the wintering period, in the spring its frozen shoots are removed before the leaf buds open.
Diseases and pests
Young paulownias are susceptible to fungal infections. Too frequent watering or contaminated soil can provoke their development. A fungicidal preparation will help get rid of the disease. Timely sanitary care will avoid the rapid spread of the disease: all affected parts of the plant must be removed. To prevent the development of rot, paulownia should not be planted in heavy soil.
Sometimes trees are harmed by insects - scale insects or aphids. You can use folk remedies against them (soap solution, tobacco dust, wood ash). If such methods do not work, they resort to appropriate insecticides. Sometimes slugs harm the beautiful leaves of paulownia. They are collected by hand.
Reproduction of paulownia
In addition to germinating seeds, paulownia can be propagated by cuttings or root suckers.
Cuttings
Paulownia cuttings are cut in spring or summer. The middle part of the stem, taken from a young (2-3-year-old) tree, is best suited for this. The stalk must be at least 15 cm long. Such a segment is buried almost completely into the peat-sandy soil, leaving only the upper 2-3 cm above the ground. Until the formation of fresh shoots, the cuttings are kept in a greenhouse. When the shoots on the seedlings reach a height of about 10 cm, all young shoots except the strongest are removed from the plant.
Reproduction by root suckers
Adult paulownia can form root shoots. In early spring, it is separated from the main plant, the cuts are treated with pitch and immediately transplanted to the chosen place. To plant such an offspring, as for any paulownia, you will need a corner sheltered from the wind with nutritious soil. At first, such plants are watered more often.
Types of paulownia with photos and names
According to various classifications, from 5 to 20 species are attributed to the paulownia genus. Among them:
Felt paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa)
Heat-loving, but also very frost-resistant paulownia, withstanding short drops in temperature to -28 degrees. Paulownia tomentosa served as the basis for a hybrid suitable for mid-latitude climates. Such a plant grows about 3 m per year. Adult specimens reach 20 meters in height. On the branches are large and dense leaves with a fibrous surface. They are colored light green. The color of numerous flowers is white or pale lilac. The fruits are kept on the branches until the end of autumn.
This species is also cultivated for technical purposes. In Japan, oil is obtained from its seeds, added to varnishes, and numerous household items, very thin veneers and even redwood products are made from wood.
Paulownia kawakamii or sapphire tree
A species with medium frost resistance, withstanding cold up to -17 degrees. Paulownia kawakamii grows up to 15-20 m in height. The size of its foliage reaches 45 cm. The tree has a lush crown and blooms with bright blue flowers with a yellowish center. But this species has an endangered status.
Paulownia fortunei
Chinese look. Paulownia fortunei blooms very profusely, but is considered to be more thermophilic. The height of the trees reaches 12 m. The light green foliage has pubescence. The inflorescences are composed of cream or white flowers with a dark center. Such a plant can be grown not only in the garden, but also as an indoor or greenhouse plant.
Paulownia elongata
The height of this species reaches 15 m. Paulownia elongata is distinguished by longer flowering. At this time, inflorescences-brushes of delicate lavender flowers appear on the trees. The species is quite cold-resistant. Adult paulownia can survive temperatures as low as -17 degrees, and seedlings as low as -10 degrees.
Paulownia fargesii
These trees grow up to 20 m in height. Paulownia fargesii forms a spreading crown. On the branches are heart-shaped leaves up to 35 cm long. Panicle inflorescences are composed of white or yellowish flowers. The species is drought-resistant, tolerates heat up to 48 degrees and cold up to -10 degrees.
Benefits and uses of paulownia
The large paulownia foliage is not only beautiful and unusual, but also brings a lot of benefits. Due to its size, it emits a lot of oxygen, and also helps to cleanse the air of harmful substances, surpassing many other trees in this indicator. For a year, 10 hectares planted with paulownia traps about a thousand tons of dust and absorbs about 300 tons of carbon dioxide. Branched roots that penetrate deep into the soil help prevent weathering and prevent erosion. Paulownia are used as part of windbreak plantations that protect soils from erosion. Due to such properties, as well as beauty, such trees become excellent candidates for decorating garden and park areas.
Some paulownia species that can withstand more severe frosts can be grown in mid-latitudes. Due to their rapid growth, such trees allow for landscaping in a shorter time.
Paulownia wood is lightweight, moisture and fire resistant and is almost not affected by fungus. It has a greyish-yellow hue and a matte surface.1 cubic meter holds about 250 kg - paulownia is 2 times lighter than pine wood, but it is considered more durable. Its wood does not crack, does not warp or rot, holds fasteners and is easily amenable to various processing.
Paulownia is often used to make a variety of sports equipment and musical instruments, as well as furniture and floor coverings. Wood is also used in the construction of houses and ships: the light parts of boats or yachts are made from it. Due to the high content of tannins and silica, such wood has an antimicrobial effect and allows you to keep warm, so baths or saunas are often sheathed with it. Biofuels, pallets, paper and cellulose are made from such raw materials, among other things. On an industrial scale, hybrids of Paulownia Forchuna and felt, as well as the Elongat species, are usually grown, but the latter are considered more thermophilic.
Various parts of the plant - leaves, bark, flowers and parts of the fruit - are used in folk medicine and in the creation of cosmetic preparations. The extract obtained from them is used for hair and skin care products, as well as in perfumery. The aroma of the flowers is reminiscent of vanilla and almonds. Paulownia helps with pulmonary diseases and rheumatism, its foliage is used as part of agents that improve the functioning of the gallbladder, as well as the liver and kidneys. In addition, paulownia leaves, which are rich in proteins and carbohydrates, are considered more nutritious than many livestock feed crops. In some countries, they are also used for preparing salads.
