Paulownia, planting guide and care work

paulownia care guide

Paulownia tomentosa sin. Paulownia imperialis or “empress tree” is a deciduous, flowering tree, native to China and Japan. It is a size II tree, reaching a height of 10-20 m, developing a large, wide crown with thick branches. It has very fast growth, in optimal environmental conditions, it can grow 3-5 meters per year. However, in some countries, it does not have long longevity. The name of the species comes from the name of the Duchess Anna Pavlova of Russia, and the attribute “tomentose” refers to the pubescent, velvety leaves.

Description and use

It is used as an isolated tree, with decorative function, in gardens and parks. It has cordiform leaves, 17-30 cm large, sometimes even 50 cm. They have a pubescent surface, with a velvety appearance. Flowering takes place in May-June, and the inflorescences are large panicles, made up of tubular, bell-shaped, purple flowers. They develop towards the tips of the branches and give off a pleasant scent. The fruits are dehiscent capsules, brown, and have a size of 3-4 cm.

Care 

Light. Being a heliophilous tree, it is recommended to plant it in areas with lots of light.

Temperature. It grows optimally at higher temperatures. It prefers lowland areas, with long autumns and mild winters. It can be affected by early autumn frosts and frost, in general. It also grows well in areas away from cold drafts.

Soil. It needs rich, fertile, damp, light soil, which ensures good water drainage. It does not withstand well calcareous and heavy soils. It does not tolerate the lack of water for long periods.

Fertilization. To stimulate the rich growth of trees and shrubs, during the vegetative growth period, it is recommended to apply specific fertilizers.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product

Pruning. Because it develops many shoots, shape correction cuts should be done every spring. Also, the young specimens that were severely affected by frost during winter, can be cut in spring from the base, above the ground, so that the new shoots sprout and develop vigorously.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product

Planting

It can be done in spring or autumn, during the vegetative dormancy period, at temperatures above 5° C, if the soil is not frozen and there is no danger of frost. Be sure to purchase the planting material from authorized nurseries.

Propagation

The Paulownia tree can be propagated through seeds, cuttings from root portions, or root suckers. The seeds have to be sown immediately after harvest, in the greenhouse, in boxes, or hotbeds. The cuttings must be left to take root in the greenhouse.

Recommended products

Read carefully and follow the instructions on the label of each product

Diseases and pests

In general, Paulownia is not often attacked by diseases and pests. But sometimes, in conditions of high humidity, spots can appear on leaves or powdery mildew. Sometimes, abnormal growths, called phytoplasmas can appear on the branches of the tree – growths similar to “bushes”, made up of shoots and young leaves. A curative treatment against phytoplasmas is not yet known, but they can be removed and they dry completely with the arrival of the cold season.

In addition:
  • the tree’s growth can be affected by the high concentration of salts in the soil.
  • an interesting feature of the Paulownia tree is that it can fix C4 carbon well, thus explaining the rapid growth of the plant.
  • it can be easily confused with Catalpa, but it can be distinguished especially through the appearance of the fruit.
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Paulownia, planting guide and care work
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