samedi 28 décembre 2013

About The Royal Paulownia Tree

By Harriett Crosby


The royal paulownia tree is originally from China and was named in honor of Anna Paulownia by her husband King Willem of the Netherlands. Easily propagated, it is famous for the large, fragrant blossoms it produces throughout the summer months and large fuzzy leaves. The Japanese people highly regard this tree for traditional and economic reasons.

When a Japanese family has a daughter they plant one of these trees. When the daughter gets married the tree is cut and used to make her wedding chest. It is also believed that if planted close to the house it will bring good fortune. Nearly every household in Japan has at least one item of furniture made from the wood of this tree.

American growers have began developing markets for these trees nationally and abroad. China is by far the largest producer of these trees and introduced them to North America as an ornamental for nursery sales and yard decoration. The saplings can grow as much as eighteen feet in a single year. Numerous tree farms have sprung up nationwide supplying various markets.

There is a market for them in nurseries also. The wide, fuzzy leaves and fragrant flowers make them very popular with home owners. The leaves are good for the environment too. The texture of the leaf attracts and holds dust, smog and smoke making it very useful for industrial areas.

The seed pods of this tree can produce thousands of seeds every year. There is some concern about it breaking out into the wild and becoming a weed tree. It propagates itself very easily in areas that have been disturbed by fire or landslides. They grow very well on hill sides that are moist and sunny. They have zero shade tolerance and will not grow in the shade of other trees.

They are very hardy in temperate zones and a seed base has been developed for colder areas that will with stand frost and snow. One of the issues with this tree is the branches tend to break in high winds. This creates a hazard for anything underneath from falling branches and makes a mess to be taken care of around the base of the trunk.

The wood of this tree serves well as a resource for surf boards and many nautical items. It also serves as a natural hardwood for warming homes during winter months. The Chinese have developed medicinal uses for the leaves as well. The processed leaf is used as a hair restoration ointment, for skin ailments and wound cleansing. It works especially well for cleansing infected ulcers.

The royal paulownia is making inroads in North America as a cash crop as well as an ornamental tree for large yards. It's ability to adapt to new soil and hardiness that protects it from drought and fires make it a viable product for export as well as use by manufacturers in the East. It is the source of many fine items that contribute to the economy of more than a few nations worldwide.




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