Paulownia Wood Guide: How To Grow Paulownia Empress Tree (Hardwood)

Image Credit: Daka¹⁴

Paulownia Empress Tree

The paulownia genus was originally named Pavlovnia after Anna Pavlovna, the queen consort of The Netherlands in the 19th century and the daughter of the Tzar of Russia. This is also how the tree also gets the common name “princess tree” or “empress tree.”

It is alternatively called the foxglove tree. Perhaps the most common species is the paulownia tomentosa.

Tomentosa is a Latin epithet that means hair-covered. Because the paulownia tomentosa is so widespread it is often confused as the entire genus of paulownia, and this is one of the reasons the entire genus is considered invasive.

In North America, the only real invasive problem is the tomentosa.¹

What Is a Princess Tree?

Princess tree is a common name for the paulownia, a tree native to East Asia that was nicknamed after Anna Pavlovna, the queen consort of The Netherlands. It can also be called the

Paulownia empress tree, royal empress tree, Chinese empress tree, or empress splendor tree.

It is commonly used to refer to a member of the genus paulownia as a whole although sometimes it is used to designate the species paulownia tomentosa in particular. For precision, the scientific names should be used whenever necessary.

Hardwood Trees

The Paulownia tree is extremely celebrated as a hardwood tree. As hardwood trees are usually broad-leafed and deciduous, the paulownia fits the bill.

They have a more complex structure than softwoods and are often slower growers. The main difference between hard and softwood is the pores or vessels in the wood.

However, the classifications of hardwood and softwood trees are a misnomer, because not all hardwood tees actually yield harder wood than softwoods. Both groups have a big range of density in their wood.

The terms hardwood and softwood just refer to whether the plant type is an angiosperm or gymnosperm, in other words, whether or not the unfertilized seed is enclosed or exposed.¹

Best Trees for Wood

Most people know the standard North American hardwood trees including ash, birch, elm, maple, beech, oak, and walnut.

Since the paulownia tree is most common in East Asia, it is less well known but deserves its place as an excellent hardwood tree, like meranti wood, oak, and others with which you may be familiar.

Huge Leaf Tomentosa

Tomentosa leaves can be cultivated into extremely large garden features. Usually, they are between 6-15 inches and are heart-shaped and deciduous.

However, if the trunk is coppiced, the tree will produce thick fuzzy branches as its new stem. These stems will produce monstrous leaves which can be above two feet in diameter.

(Image by: Andreas Rockstein¹⁰)

The leaves are extremely impressive and look like they belong in a tropical Jurassic forest. This is commonly done by growers just for amusement or aesthetic reasons.²

These leaves contribute to the impressive carbon sequestration abilities of the tomentosa. These trees are known for readily absorbing pollutants from the air and have been suggested as ideal species for planting and sequestration projects.

The issue is that in many non-native environments, they are also considered invasive and can out-compete local species and negatively affect the ecosystem as a whole. Thus the impressive abilities of the tomentosa to cleanse the atmosphere must be weighted against its ability to disrupt local ecosystems.

Fast Growing Hardwood Trees

One of the great advantages of the paulownia tree as a wood-bearing tree is the speed of its growth. Paulownia trees can grow to a significant size in only a matter of years and can yield strong wood in around or even under 20 years.⁵

However, for the best results, the trees are usually coppiced and this will mean more time is required to reach maximum size and wood quality.¹

Cultivating Paulownia Tree

As any paulownia wood guide will say, the paulownia must be given attention if it is being cultivated to produce high-quality hardwood. One thing is to reduce competition.

(Image by: Andreas Rockstein¹¹)

In the early growing stages, the soil around the trunk should be bare. If necessary, remove competing plants manually.

Trees that grow without coppicing or pruning usually do not develop a strong enough or long enough bole to produce high-grade timber. So after 1-3 years in the ground, once the root system is developed, trees intended for lumber are usually cut just above the ground.

Resprouting promotes the growth of tall trunks. How many board feet in a tree depends on the size and shape of the specific tree.

Paulownia trees need decades to produce the optimal amount of high-grade lumber. To grow a paulownia in your yard or garden, make sure that it is the type of tree you want and that it is suitable for your site.

Follow the planting directions and watch the tree add character to your property. You should make a choice about whether to coppice the tree for larger leaves and a different look.

Paulownia trees are extremely low-maintenance yard plants.

Is Paulownia Wood Valuable?

Paulownia wood is extremely prized for its lightness, strength, and durability. It is commonly used in construction, for furniture, musical instruments, and many other applications.

When commercially cultivated paulownia lumber can be some of the best in the world.

Royal Empress Tree Uses (Paulownia Wood Guide)

This tree is traditionally grown as an ornamental tree. Its elegant appearance makes it a favored choice for yards, gardens, and parks.

The Royal Horticultural Society gave the Paulownia its Award of Garden Merit. The tree is quite tolerant and flexible, which means that in nature it has the role of a pioneer plant.

It produces excellent fodder with its leaves which are abundant in nitrogen and its strong roots. In some ecological systems, the Paulownia will create favorable conditions for taller tree species which will eventually outgrow and overshadow the Paulownia, meaning it can no longer thrive.¹

Since the paulownia seeds are so soft and lightweight, they were commonly used by porcelain exporters in nineteenth-century China for packing their goods to be shipped. When in transit, the cases would sometimes burst and leave seeds all along the tracks.

This created an explosion of trees spread across the world, and the tree is now considered invasive in the USA and Japan.⁸ In Japan, it is tradition to plant Paulownia seeds upon the birth of a daughter.

The idea is that by the time the daughter is at the peak of her adulthood and suitability for marriage, the tree will also be mature. The tree will then be cut down and crafted into a dresser to serve as a wedding gift.¹

The tomentosa has also been used in various projects designed to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere. Its exceptionally large leaves are excellent absorbers of pollution, and of course, the tree also yields timber and aesthetic value.

In some places it has been claimed that the tomentosa conducts C4 carbon fixation, which is a very rare process, however, this information is inaccurate.¹ A paulownia wood guide will tell you the tree is used for a variety of applications.

Including housing, furniture, components for aircraft and yachts, musical instruments, beehives, barrels, coffins, and more. This diverse set of uses and human applications has made the paulownia, especially the paulownia tomentosa, a beloved and widespread feature of the North American ecosystem.

Empress Splendor Tree Invasive Species

Due to the fact that the paulownia tree is an extremely successful tree across the globe in many non-native areas, it is often considered an invasive genus. However, really only the paulownia tomentosa, a specific species, should be considered invasive.⁹

Other species under the Paulownia genus can be beneficial even to non-native landscapes. Since the tomentosa is fast-growing in various terrains, and since the seeds are so numerous, small, and light, it is an excellent pioneer species.⁴

The tomentosa was initially cultivated in North America as an ornamental species and is still cultivated commercially for wood. However, spreading should be controlled in at-risk areas by pulling seedlings by hand including the entire root systems.

This is the best method of spread prevention. However, it may be wise to identify the exact species of paulownia before pulling a seedling, as technically only the tomentosa is considered invasive in most areas and other non-invasive species of the genus can easily be mistaken for it.

Paulownia Lumber

Paulownia heartwood is an excellent combination of lightweight and extremely durable. It is usually a pale brown color.

Sometimes it can have a red or purple hue. The grain tends to be straight with a coarse or less-even texture.

(Image by: Bri Weldon¹²)

It has pores that make the wood look porous, very desirable for some aesthetic applications. The lumber has excellent resistance to decay but can be susceptible to insects.

Paulownia is prized because it is so easy to work with. The tree’s wood usually has no knots.

Often the wood has a high silica content, so the wood can have a significant dulling effect on the tools used to cut it. It is an extremely good insulator and has a combustion resistance almost twice that of many similar species.

If you are wondering how different woods stack up against each other in terms of wood hardness or what is the hardest wood in the world, consult a wood hardness scale. In short, paulownia wood is some of the most useful and diversely applied lumber in the world.

The paulownia is a species that has been iconic in East Asia for centuries.

“Paulownia wood” is a unique material, and now it has spread across the world; although the species tomentosa is considered invasive in many of its non-native environments due to its high success, the genus is still cultivated by many.