Tree of paulownia: description, photo, planting and care, reproduction

Adam, sapphire or dragon tree - all these are the names of one plant, in the botanical classification known as Pavlovnia from the same genus and family. It is a real leader among hardwoods in terms of growth rate, has high-quality wood. However, gardeners and landscape designers appreciate it not for that. Pavlovnia is a tree with an incredibly exotic and beautiful view, especially during the flowering period. It is unpretentious in culture, growing rapidly, but thermophilic. How to grow it from seeds, the features of planting in the ground, the rules of care - this is all you'll find in the article.

Description of the plant

Its sonorous and unusual name is due to the German scientists: the botanist J. Tsukkarini and the physician F. Zibold. Having discovered and first described the plant after a trip to Japan, they gave it a name in honor of the Queen of the Netherlands, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Anna Pavlovna. The native land of the tree is Southeast Asia, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, in Russia, in the natural environment it is found in the Far East. The genus includes four species, an imperial (or felt) variety is introduced into the garden and park culture.

The deciduous tree of paulownia has a straight trunk with spreading wide crown, the leaves are large (up to 25-30 cm in length), located opposite on long petioles. In form remotely resemble birch. Leaf plate trilobate or deep-toothed with integral edges, without stipules.

The decorative nature of the tree is especially impressive in the spring, when a lot of large pale lilac tubular flowers are gathered on it, collected in an erect panicle, reminiscent of candles. A thick aroma fills the space around, attracting insect pollinators. It is recognized that paulownia (Adam's tree) is a good honey-bearer, along with acacia. Honey has a pronounced aroma, a clear, light-textured, light shade.

According to actual data on the nomenclature of modern and fossil species, which belong to the plant kingdom, the genus Pavlovnia has seven species. Let us dwell on the description and features of each of them in more detail.

Sapphire tree

His scientific name is Paulownia kawakamii. Characterized by a fairly rapid growth, by three years it reaches a meter height. The flowers are painted in a sapphire blue saturated color with a yellow midpoint. It is very photophilous, the more sun there is, the better the plant will develop. Choose well-lit places for planting. Resistant to weather conditions, lowering the temperature to -17 ° C and simultaneously heat-resistant wood. Pavlovnia of this species prefers well drained clay soils with medium reaction in the range from 5.5 to 8.5.

Pavlovnia Forchun

An effective tree, reaching up to 12 meters in height, the homeland - China. The trunk is straight, crown branched, wide. Heart-shaped large leaves are located opposite. Flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences, a characteristic shade - creamy with a dark middle. After the flowering, pods are formed up to 5 cm in length. It is known as a house plant, it develops in the form of a decorative "fluffy" bush. In care it is unpretentious and adapts to external conditions. This species is thermophilic, winters prefer soft with a maximum drop in air temperature to -9 ° C.

Pavlovnia elongata

It is a tall and fast-growing tree. Pavlovnia elongata, like other species, has a developed ramified root system. Flowers with a characteristic pale lavender or white shade and a yellow center. The flowering period is long - up to 6 months. A tree with a slender, straight trunk, a branched and spreading crown. The temperature range is -10 ° C to + 48 ° C. The leaves have a characteristic heart-shaped shape, light green in color, on a long petiole, without stipules.

Pavlovnia Catalpa

In appearance and features, this species is something between the elongate paulownia and felt. The plant is the champion in the growth rate among hardwoods. The annual increase under favorable environmental conditions is up to 4 meters. After 3-4 years paulownia reaches the size that is characteristic of other trees at the age of 20 years. Flowers in shape resemble foxglove, large, with bent petals. The color varies from pale lilac to almost white. Leaves characteristic, cordate, with even margins and long petioles.

Pavlovnia tomentoza

Popular in the production and culture tree. Pavlovnia felt or tomentoza is a valuable garden and park species, which is most actively used in areas with a hot and humid climate. Flowers of a gentle lilac shade, large, collected in an erect paniculate inflorescence. Fruit is a round biconvex box. It is valued not only for its decorative qualities, but also for soft and durable wood. In Japan and China, it is actively used to create musical instruments, sports equipment, trinkets, souvenirs, etc.

Pavlovnia fargesii

Less well-known in garden and park culture. This paulownia is a tree (the photo is shown above), which is commercially significant and widely cultivated. It is assumed that the species has a hybrid origin from kawakamii and Fortune. At least since its inauguration in 1975, this statement has found quite weighty evidence: the features of the morphological structure, the similarity of the set of enzymes. The growth rate is high - up to 4 m per season under favorable conditions. Crohn is uneven, spreading out. Flowers lilac shade with a dark purple middle.

Tree of paulownia: planting and care

Representatives of the genus Pavlovnia are very similar to each other and their care is generally the same. All of them are long-livers in the garden and can grow for 100 years. Trees are not demanding for soil fertility and can vegetate even on soils with a lime content of up to 2%. The question is different. If you want to get a beautiful, slender and flowering plant, it is best to provide him with a moderately moist, well drained soil with pH = 6, clayey. The tree does not like extremes: droughts and swamping.

The seedlings are planted in the soil and in the autumn (after the fall of the leaves), and in the spring. Preliminary it is necessary to prepare a landing pit, the size of which depends on the root system (on the average 0,6х0,6х0,6 m). At the bottom, make a drain, then fill a small layer of soil, spread the roots of the plant, the root neck should stay at the level of the soil, and gradually fall asleep with the prepared fertile soil. The exotic paulownia tree (a description of the species above) should be planted in well-lit and open places, where light shading occurs for several hours, protected from cold winds in the winter and drafts in the summer. It has brittle wood, therefore it is easily damaged. All species have moderate frost resistance. Confidently withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -20 ... -25 ° C, but the flower buds in this case freeze. In the first years after planting for the winter, the tree should be slightly insulated.

Watering and fertilizing

The tree is thermophilic and hygrophilous. He needs regular watering, especially at a young age (the first two to three years) and at high summer temperatures. Sprinkler system of distribution of moisture for paulownia is undesirable, as it will stimulate the development of the surface root system, which will spoil the appearance. Water the tree deep. Do not use in the immediate vicinity of it a variety of insecticides, as the plant is very sensitive to them. The need for mineral and organic fertilizers exists at a young age and under the condition of infertile, depleted soil. In all other cases, paulownia develops normally without underfeeding. This is due to the ability of the plant to adapt to the composition of the soil and the specific natural and climatic conditions.

Adam's tree (paulownia): reproduction

Reproduction is possible in three ways: seeds, cuttings and root offspring. In the first case, all amateur gardeners should be warned. In specialized shops paulownia seeds are not found often, but still there are. It is important to remember that they retain good germination only in the first six months, and then begin to rapidly lose the ability to germinate. To buy and wait for the result was not in vain, take into account the terms indicated on the package. Sowing is carried out early in the spring in shallow capacity. Seeds are neatly distributed over the moistened surface and only slightly covered with earth, covered with glass and placed in a warm and bright place. Seedlings appear after 4-5 weeks. When they have 1-2 pairs of real leaves, they should be placed in separate pots.

Cuttings and root offspring from the tree can be taken in the spring or autumn. In the first case, the sprig should not be too long. When planting, bury the shank to the level of the soil, or leave it 3-4 cm above the surface. Otherwise, the new trunk is twisted. If several leaves from the root of the shoots, leave the strongest, and cut the others with a pruner.

About wood

As already mentioned, paulownia is a fast-growing tree, moreover, it is the leader in this indicator among hardwood species. In this regard, the commercial benefits of its landing will be obtained after three years. The lion's share of sales is in South-East Asia, as it is a natural growing environment for plants, it has been used by man in this region for about 1000 years. From wood do everything: from building materials to surfboards and biofuel. Firstly, it has a light weight and on this indicator ranks second after balsa. Pavlovnia is like aluminum in the world of metals. Secondly, it has outstanding strength indicators, including breakage. Thirdly, it is a good heat insulator, fire resistant. In Japan, long ago, from its wood, chests were made, in which only the most valuable things were stored to protect them in the event of a fire.