Paulownia tree

[Richard]

Evidently, this tree grows in this area (as well as many others I suppose). It's a fast growing tree, considered by some to be a trash tree, considered by others to be desirable for wood. (Having heard "omg" stories about the price it brought years ago, but have never heard about todays prices)

anyway

I found one on the farm a year ago, seems it is growing out of a place I burned a slash pile that was left there. Hmmmm...fast forward to ANOTHER place I had a fire and I found another. Hmmmm... go to yet another place I had a fire and yes... another. I just got home from yet a different part of farm where yes, I had another fire (and these were large fires) and found a FOREST of these trees growing.

I can see the errant seed falling and sprouting up, but I've now come to conclude that something ELSE is going on here to make these sprout up very specifically to where I had fires a couple years ago.

Any ideas as to why these are proliferating at these locations?
Are they easily transplantable? (they are maybe 10/15 feet tall and some are only 2 feet tall)

The more I read, the more I get intrigued by this tree (yet I also suspect that PART of what I read is hype). none the less, it DOES grow fast, the wife DOES want an area planted with trees, the wife DOES like lavender colored flowers/blooms...

I have to admit, it's got me thinking about a mass transplanting. But I'm still befuddled as to why they are growing rampent on my fire areas. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Richard

 

[Tinkerer]

Never heard of that particular tree. It is not uncommon for some types of plant to NEED a fire before their seeds will germinate. Maybe this is the reason for all of your "fire" trees.

 

[pruntyc]

I thought about growing those trees a few years ago. I understand they are worth a lot of money, for the wood. But I was also told, that it is hard to get them started. So it sounds like you may be setting on a GOLD MINE, if what I have read is true. Not sure, but probably you county agent, can help you on where to sell the wood when they are fully grown.

 

[tomnky]

You might just be interested in what this link has as far as information.seems there is all kinds of info on the net about them!
Paulownia Tree Information
From what I read it candevelop a tap root that can go as deep as 45 feet /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[DocHeb]

The Royal Paulownia is described on enature.com as an imported tree, but no description of the relationship to fires.

 

[Richard]

yes, I've found nothing about them as far as fire goes either. I've read somewhere that years (decades/centuries???) ago their seeds were used in old crates as packing material. The tree originiated in the Orient and they exhausted their supply. Meanwhile, the seeds they used as packing material found at least one receptive home in the United States. they also seem to grow naturally in this east Tennesse area.

(I do not know how accurate the above is, just what I recall reading once).

Further, I understand the Chinese/Japanese used the wood to make decorative "wedding boxes" or something of that name for the daughter. Today, I understand, the Japanese use the wood for furniture and Japan (or that area anyway) is the primary market for any marketable wood.

Does a fire make the soil acidic? other?

I DO see these on various parts of the farm, but it's 1 or 2 here & there, just like on my burn pile areas. Only ONE of them has this "forest". I didn't count them, but I'd not be surprised there's 30 trees growing in what seems to be a 20x50 foot area.

We can call me clueless on this tree /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Richard

 

[pruntyc]

I believe burning makes the soil alkaline. They use to make lye from burning of wood.

 

[DocHeb]

Boy, after reading that web page I believe that the Paulownia is the Alpaca/Emu of the horitculture world. Get in quick on the ground floor!!!!!

Kidding aside, this tree may be akin to Kudzu, rather than the greatest cash crop since cotton. The Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council is not too happy about this tree.

 

[pruntyc]

I can see that you don't live in the south, nothing grows like kudzu. Inches a day is one thing, but its not only easy to start kudzu, it is almost impossible to stop it from starting and growing. As its kind of hard to get a Paulownia seed to start. Most won't, that is why I didn't try growing them. Kudzu is going north also, I have seen it up into zone 6, so just give it time, as strong as it is and the way it spreads, it will probably get up to you, one of these days. So there is no comparing the two, its like comparing grapes and tomatoes, they are nothing alike in anyway.

 

[tomnky]

I found this paragraph particularly interesting:
Habitat

Paulownia trees are often found on roadsides, stream banks, and disturbed habitats, including fire sites, forests defoliated by pests (such as gypsy moths) and landslides. Its ability to sprout prolifically from adventitious buds on stems and roots allows it to survive fire, cutting, and even bulldozing in construction areas. Paulownia can also colonize rocky cliffs and scoured riparian zones where it may compete with rare plants in these marginal habitats. It tolerates high soil acidity, drought, and low soil fertility