They should be planted after the danger of the last frost has passed, perhaps waiting a couple of more weeks to make sure the ground has warned sufficiently for a fast start.  Plantings may continue until late summer.  We will not ship plants too early or too late for your area of the country.
 
 

The American 357 is rated at 10F.  However, some growers report temperatures as low as zero, without damage.  A young or one-year old is the most susceptible to cold damage.  The minimum temperature will be lower as the tree ages.

Planting in the northern climes of the US is somewhat risky -- a risk that some are willing to take, especially in areas where winters can be mild.  Snow cover will help buffer Paulownia from the colder temperatures.

If the tree freezes off, then it will re-sprout at the grount line and rapidly grow another trunk full of big leaves.  Some even cut their trees off each year to have this effect of rapid growth and big leaves.

The re-growth can reach heights of 30 feet in a single growing season.
 
 
 

Field plants are 4" - 8" in height and are in a root ball of growing medium of 3" x 3"   Ornamental plants are 8: - 14" tall, with a 6" cone of roots. 
 
 
 

Sandy or loamy soil is best.  It must be well drained with no standing water at any time.  Hard or very tight clay soils may be amended with organic soil amendments and deep cultivation.
 
 
 

The pH should be in a range of 5 to 7.  Contact your local extension agent to ask about tensting for proper pH.
 
 
 

Paulownia requires fairly high rates of fertilizers, nitrogen being the most needed.  In the absence of soil test use a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at the rate of 800 to 1000 pounds per acre.  The leaves of the tree should be a rich dark green.  If not, then fertilizer is needed.  Splitting the application during the year is advisable.  However, do not apply any after July 15.
 
 
 

Paulownia are deep-rooted trees and do not uproot sidewalks, etc., as badly as some other species of trees.  However, the tree will get rather large in a few years and this should be taken into account.  I would not plant any closer than 10 feet to any structure and no closer than 20 feet to septic lines.
 
 
 

The leaves make excellent animal feed.  In many parts of the world the leaves are raked and baled as hay for animal feed.
 
 
 

It is excellent mulch and it dissolves rapidly, adding lots of nutrients to the soil.  In fact the tree removes many nutrients from the deep soil and places it in the upper layers via the leaves as they decay.
 
 
 
 

It depends on lots of factors, but a height of 12 to 15 feet is easily obtained.  Trees planted in late spring or summer will have reduced height the first year due to a shortened growing season.   This is not a problem.
 
 
 

It means to cut the tree off, generally at the ground.  If the tree is to be used for timber production, then this is done to get a rapid and tall growth in one growing season.  Rapid growth in one season will result in a tall and straight butt log.  This is often done to yard or shade trees to get the same tall straight trunk.
 
 
 

The lumber is light straw colored, much like ash.  It is light in weight with a very straight grain.  It does not crack, warp or split.  It is fire resistant and an excellent insulator of heat or cold.  Its machinability is excellent.  It stains, glues and paints with ease.
 
 

The market is presently a very lightly traded market.  Prices range from $0.50 per board foot for scrap board to $4.00 per board foot for wide (12 to 16 inches) furniture grade wood.  Most wood is wild Paulownia from the Tennessee/Virginia area.  Plantation grown wood is still several years from first harvest.  Paulownia is bringing $1 to $2 in other parts of the world.
 
 
 

We offer a guarantee to arrive alive and to live for 30 days..
 
 
 
 

Any mill that processes sawtimber can saw and process paulownia.  Plus (and it's a big plus) Paulownia will easily air dry, allowing landowners to harvest and process since expensive kiln equipment is not required.  Paulownia will also veneer very well.
 
 
 
 

With such high quality and demand and the limited acreage planted to date, the market will be a seller's market for many, many years.
 
 
 
 

Paulownia may be propagated by several means.  Paulownia from seed will be very diverse genetically.  Some trees will be short, some bushy, some will grow slowly.  This diversity means survival for the wild trees.  Plantations started with seed will have that diversity with perhaps a few timber quality trees.  Our trees, such as Americana 357, are carefully selected from several generations.  Only a select few are chosen for their superior growth and form.  The final selection is then cloned to produce a forest of superior trees.  This process is used for many trees and plants.

Rooted sprouts and root cuttings can also propagate Paulownia.  This form of cloning is expensive and time consuming.  Also, roots and sprouts can transfer diseases and pathogens.

We use, and highly recommend, plants from the cloned method using tissue culture.
 
 

For field planting, we recommend 16 - 20 feet.  Plantings for yard or shade trees may be as close as 12 feet in a single row..