Po-wal-la Trees???

[Ken Scharabok]

Last weekend I heard someone taking about these super fast growing trees. Name sounded to be po-wal-la. What would be correct spelling?

Ken Scharabok

[fordson major]

Paulownia Trees , are these the ones? mark newhall was growing some i think.

[Don Armstrong]

Originally Posted by ford major

Paulownia Trees , are these the ones? mark newhall was growing some i think.

Those would be them. I think you should look into how much pruning they need as they grow though. The ones I've seen need a lot of encouragement to put up a single trunk rather than several leaders, and at the rate they grow that can mean a lot of work.

[Sedition]

The fastest growing is the Asian paulownia tree, which is probably what you are talking about. The Royal Paulownia is the most common in the states, and I understand that this is hybridized into the “Aus-Tree” that is sold when the Little-Giant and Juicer infomercials are not on.

It grows up to 20’ in a year, and has respectable quality wood similar to a cross between a poplar like cottonwood and ash. It’s only hardy to a zone 6/7. Most of the places selling these are not reputable. If you really need one, talk to a qualified arborist. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrol...eet.cfm?ID=145

It is also called “the emu with roots”, because it is pushed with late-night ads or in the back of MEN – but there is no real market for actually selling it.

I’m a fan of native trees. The popular (cottonwood and aspen) trees as well as the soft maples all grow 6’+ a year in good soil with ample water. I’ve already had 3’ this year on my black-cherry grove because of the heavy rains. That is a wood with a good market value. A 40 year old, 80’ tall old cultivated black-cherry tree sells for about $3 grand for 4/x lumber, and can net $10k as veneer.

[Nette]

I planted one near my chicken run, hoping for quick shade. It was just a stick when I put it in the ground about a month ago. It's about 3 feet high now. Deer don't seem to bother it. My brother ordered a bunch from a gardening catalog.

It sort of reminds me of what I call "stick trees." Daddy used to call it "pop gun timber." I don't know what the real name is for the type of tree I'm talking about, but it's abundant in NC. It can be a nuisance, especially when it grows up around buildings. We just need to figure out a way to market it as fast-growing, like the Paulownia trees, and we could get rich!

[Meg Z]

The Paulownia tomentosa, Empress Tree, lots of other common names, is already banned in some states, and millions are being spent trying to eradicate it. Please check to see its invasive potential in your state. It's tree kudzu, as far as I'm concerned.

Supposedly, the surge started because there was demand in Japan for the wood, and Japan and China (point of origin) weren't on speaking terms. That's changed, so Japan can get all they want, much closer, and much cheaper. I've not seen a market here for it.

Meg

[Mutti]

We have one and that thing grows about 5' a year...put it in past losing a huge tree to windstorm. they can be a pest. But the wood is really pretty...try putting in a search for former prez Jimmy Carter/woodworking and see the chest he made out of it. He is quite accomplished. DEE

[labrat]

Be afraid be very afraid. The Royal Paulownia has overgrown south central Kentucky and its tenacity reminds me of kudzu. True, all the reports are that it is great for firewood or possibly for cordwood construction, in fact, there is a great market for the logs of the royal paulownia in Japan, but due to the speed of its propagation, as I’ve stated before, this tree can be quite invasive, not only on your property but wherever the wind blows. As you can imagine, this eliminates or crowds out native species, possibly forcing wildlife to relocate.

[Ken Scharabok]

Only heard part of discussion on them. Guy said someone he knew tentitively had a contact to plant 12,000 acres of them somewhere up in upper LA, I believe, for a wood pulp mill. He said they were reproduced by starting root cuttings in say a 5-gallon type plastic bucket with holes in the sides. As the roots came out the holes, they could be cut for a new start with one tree potentially providing enough root cuttings for hundreds more.

To grow so fast they must really suck water and nutrients out of the ground. I would also suspect the stumps would quickly sprout out again, making replanting difficult. As I recall, normally a sucker stem (when only one is left) doesn't produce the tree of its parent.

I would also be concerned they are something like the local Box Elders. Very, very week limb nodes.

Now seem to recognize the name with a tree pretty well taking over parts of the Everglades.

[comfortablynumb]

those are simlar to a catalpa tree, they grow quite fast.
if you want a fast growing shade tree or firewood tree use a hybrid poplar, but not near your well or house... they have nasty roots ONLY within about 50 feet of the trunk.

there are several HUNDRED clone types, so beware of bying cheap and unknown clones, or you might end up with a slow grower or a telephone pole with leaves.

once you dont want it somewhere its easy to kill by just cutting it down, as good strain clone wont try to pop up babies along its surface roots.

[Laura]

I planted 6 paulownia trees. They started out growing very fast, but the horses found them very tasty. I have no survivors.

[wr]

Can you please tell me more about these trees? I've heard bits about people trying them up in Canada but I can't seem to remember if they were found successful or not. I do recall hearing something about them not doing well with a lot of wind, can anyone tell me if this is correct?

[mrglock27]

I've read on the net that the roots can crack your house foundation so plant far from your house. When they harvest them for pulp production they cut the tree off at the ground and let it grow again trimming the side branches and letting the main trunk grow, then they grow even faster because the root system is already huge.

[Christiaan]

Here in Washington State it is too cold for them to be an invasive species. Many are grown as accent trees. They are very lovely, with large tropical-looking leaves and lovely blue/lavender flowers in the spring that look like upsidedown wisteria. It is very easy to grow from seed (see Hudson Seeds) but take some patience as the young trees die down to the ground their first few years. Once they quit doing that they can be pruned back to one trunk.
According to Hudson they are used for hog fodder in China and the wood is used for fine cabinetry. I am growing a copse of them for summer shade for my Highlands and the chickens. They should be large enough to let the beasts in under them in just five or six years.

[Ken Scharabok]

"When they harvest them for pulp production they cut the tree off at the ground and let it grow again trimming the side branches and letting the main trunk grow, then they grow even faster because the root system is already huge."

If multiple suckers sprout from a stump wouldn't someone have to go in and knock off all but the best one - likely several times? On trimming side branches, manually also? Where would a large plantation get that kind of labor?

[Thatch]

Well if it grows that fast and coppices that well it might well be a great resource for the homestead. Nothing like a quick growing coppice stand.

J