Royal paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa) is an introduced ornamental that has become well established in this country. It is also known as princess-tree, empress-tree, or paulownia. Aside from its continuing ornamental use, the species has value for its small saw logs that are in demand for specialty products. Its capacity to "pioneer" disturbed exposed sites has made royal paulownia a favorite for stripmine spoilbank reclamation

Royal paulownia is a native of eastern Asia. It has been widely planted in North America from Montreal to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. It has also been planted in some Pacific States. The tree is moderately cold hardy and has naturalized principally in the East and South. In China, the natural range is south of the 0° C (32° F) January isotherm in areas which receive an annual rainfall of at least 1020 mm (40 in) Naturally seeded or planted royal paulownia survives and grows best on moist, well-drained soils of steep slopes or open valleys, but it will germinate and grow on almost any moist, bare soil. A highly adaptable "escapee" such as royal paulownia is found in many site, soil, and forest type conditions, including soils commonly found in the order Alfisols.

References:

Bonner, F. T., and James D. Burton. 1974. Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zuec. Royal paulownia. In Seeds of woody plants in the United States. p. 572-573. C. S. Schopmeyer, tech. coord. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 450. Washington, DC.

Carpenter, S. B. 1981. Personal correspondence. University of Kentucky, Lexington.

Carpenter, S. B., and Donald H. Graves. (n. d.) Paulownia-a valuable new timber resource. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, FOR-11. Lexington, KY. 7 p.

Hepting, George A. 1971. Diseases of forest and shade trees of the United States. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 386. Washington, DC. 658 p.

Hu, Shiu-Ying. 1961. The economic botany of the paulownias. Economic Botany 15:11-27.

Immel, M. J., E. M. Tackety, and S. B. Carpenter. 1980. Paulownia seedlings respond to increased daylength. Tree Planters'Notes 31(l):3-5.

Tang, R. C., S. B. Carpenter, R. F. Wittwer, and D. H. Graves. 1980. Paulownia-a crop tree for wood products and reclamation of surface-mined land. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 4(l):19-24.

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General information about Royal paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa) Tree: