Whether you are interested in the business of timber or you are simply curious about it, you may want to know which is the best tree to plant if your goal is to get good quality wood and don’t wait 20 years or more to get it.
Read on to learn which wood species is considered the most profitable in the short term, that is to say, the one that provides the greatest economic gains in the shortest possible time.
The cultivation of imperial Paulownia could be a good investment
When we talk about Paulownia we are referring to a whole family of trees that share common characteristics of rapid growth, high resistance to weathering and adaptability to almost any environment, which differentiates it from other species.
Among the more than 20 described species of Paulownia, 3 stand out for their timber quality and they are the following:
- Paulownia elongata.
- The Paulownia fortunei.
- Paulownia tomentosa.
From now on, when we talk about Paulownia imperial, we will be referring to Paulownia elongata and Paulownia fortunei.
Why is Paulownia imperial the most profitable species over time?
Imperial Paulownia and its growth rate
Paulownia imperial is the species with the highest growth rate in the world, growing between 3 and 6 meters in its first year of life.
That means that it is possible to cut the tree after about 5 years and extract very good quality wood.
Then, you could be earning profits from your timber production.
In addition, the speed at which you can extract wood is much faster compared to other species, such as Cedar, for example, with which you have to wait for at least 15 years to cut it down or its wood won’t have the desired quality.
Likewise, Imperial Paulownia is cheap to produce and once you get its timber you can sell it in large quantities.
Imperial Paulownia matures faster than other species.
Teak, one of the best woods on the planet, takes at least 15 to 20 years to reach maturity and yet it is one of the fastest trees to mature.
In comparison, the Imperial Paulownia can reach mature maturity at 10 years, so you’ll have perfectly developed trees in half the time.
Other considerations about Paulownia imperial
Imperial Paulownia has an amazing regeneration capacity
The most impressive feature of the Imperial Paulownia is its ability to regenerate without replanting. This process can be repeated up to 7 times.
That is, after the tree is felled, the cut trunk can grow back into a new tree as long as the roots remain intact.
Therefore, if you consider starting a Paulownia plantation this feature will save you money in buying seeds because you would need less compared to other species.
Imperial Paulownia is a supremely adaptable species
Likewise, Paulownia imperial is extraordinarily adaptable since it can grow in difficult and nutrient-deprived soils where other species wouldn’t be able to thrive.
So the chances of you being able to plant this tree are greater than with other species that can only grow in very specific climates and soils.
Imperial Paulownia can help you with other crops
The leaves of the imperial Paulownia capture a lot of nitrogen, fertilizing and restoring the soil where it grows, so it is said that Paulownia is useful to recover damaged soils where nothing grows or it is very difficult to cultivate.
However, we have not found more evidence about it except for testimonies of its growers, so we recommend you consult with experts before making any decision.
The wood of Paulownia imperial is of very good quality.
Finally, if you want to make money, consider that the wood of Paulownia imperial is of good quality and has several applications so it is likely that the demand will remain or increase.
The Imperial Paulownia (Pawlounia elongata – fortunei)
General characteristics of the Paulownia imperial tree
| Location | Paulownia imperial is a native species of the Asian continent; it is found abundantly in countries such as: ☐ China. ☐ Laos. ☐ Vietnam. ☐ The Korean Peninsula (Both Koreas). | |
| Height | It can reach up to 30 meters. | |
| Diameter | 1 meter on average. | |
| Leaves | Bright green, heart-shaped; they are extremely large and can reach 1 meter in diameter. | |
| Branches | Present only in the upper third of the trunk, they are thin, and slightly curved upwards. | |
| Flowers | Up to 6 centimeters in diameter, purple in color, and butterfly-shaped. | |
| Habitat | It adapts very well to various soil types. However, it does not thrive in very rocky and compact soils. This species grows best in temperate to warm climates, although it can adapt better to heat than to cold. In fact, hard frosts can be a major problem for the survival of the tree and its normal growth. The same is true for severe drought, as Paulownia needs well-watered soils. In addition, this species needs a lot of light to grow and does not tolerate shade well, because if it does not have constant exposure to the sun, it tends to twist or die. Therefore, its ability to recover only occurs if it has a lot of sun exposure. | |
| Shelf life | It can exceed 200 years in nature. In a plantation, it rarely exceeds 10 years. | |
| Conservation status (IUCN) | It is not on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. |
Curiosities of the Imperial Paulownia
This tree is considered sacred by some Southeast Asian and East Asian cultures, so much so that in traditional Chinese medicine Paulownia is included in several treatments.
The tree is also associated with good luck in Japanese culture.
In fact, in ancient Japan, when a woman gave birth to a girl, the family would plant several Paulownia trees so that they would be fully grown and mature by the time the girl became a woman and was about to be married.
Then the bride’s family could give some Paulownia trees as part of the marriage dowry, as even then the great environmental and economic quality of the tree was known.
Environmental safety of Paulownia imperial
We must differentiate the species of Paulownia very well so that there is no confusion of any kind.
Paulownia tomentosa is perhaps the best-known of the Paowlonias in western countries (you can see the technical data sheet here); its culture became popular in Europe and the United States in the middle of the 19th century.
But, keep in mind that in recent years there has been a lot of controversy around this tree.
It happens to be that several environmentalists claim that this tree is an invasive species outside of its natural habitat (i.e. outside of Asia).
In fact, they claim that Paulownia tomentosa has endangered native species in the United States.
On the other hand, however, farmers and investors point out that Paulownia tomentosa possesses the same environmental qualities as Paulownia imperial and therefore claim that the evidence of P. tomentosa’s “toxicity” is circumstantial and untrue.
Whatever the case may be, if you want to invest in a Paulownia plantation we recommend that you do not choose P. tomentosa because in countries like Colombia it has already been banned “just in case”. That is, since it is not known for sure what happens to the species, there are governments that prefer to avoid using it.
But what about Paulownia imperial?
The story here is very different since so far there are no studies or research that suggest that the imperial Paulownia is invasive or detrimental to the environmental balance of the species.
In fact, it seems to be quite the opposite, since apart from the benefits already mentioned, P. imperial produces a lot of nectar in its flowers, helping to sustain bee populations that are also pollinators of many species.
In addition, those who advocate the cultivation of the species argue that the tree can become the basis of permaculture (science that maintains agricultural ecosystems).
Imperial Paulownia sequesters carbon
Paulownia imperial has a unique photosynthesis process. In fact, the photosynthesis exerted by this species resembles the process carried out by some types of grasses or sugar cane.
In other words, Paulownia may behave more like non-tree plants (those that don’t produce wood), allowing the tree to capture large amounts of carbon while storing many nutrients in its leaves.
Paulownia imperial: the phoenix tree
Perhaps the most impressive feature of this tree is its incredible capacity to regenerate.
After felling, the cut trunk can regenerate itself so there is no need for replanting.
This is explained by the strong and efficient root system of Paulownia. However, it is very important that as the trunk regenerates, a pruning process also takes place to “clean” the tree of unnecessary branch shoots.
This suggests that Paulownia is a self-sustaining timber crop and therefore saves costs for the grower while providing timber indefinitely to the market.
Imperial Paulownia allows crop diversification
An increasingly common tendency is the diversification of crops by introducing Paulownia plantations alongside crops such as coffee, cocoa, banana or corn.
This tendency is explained by the fact that, for example, Paulownia can provide shade and protection against elements because its large leaves cover the aforementioned crops well.
Also, thanks to the complex root system of Paulownia imperial it doesn’t need to compete with other crops as it is able to extract the nutrients it needs deeper in the soil.
So, it seems that Pawlounia can develop a relationship of commensalism with other plant species, whether tree or non-tree.
This means that crops can interact with Paulownia and obtain a benefit from it without affecting it.
On the other hand, as we said before, Paulownia produces a lot of nectar, a phenomenon that attracts many insects such as bees that are great pollinators which helps the reproduction of plants.
Imperial Paulownia and Nitrogen Uptake
As already mentioned, Paulownia has a “rare” metabolic behavior for a tree, so it captures much more nitrogen than other tree species.
This is important because nitrogen-rich soils can retain more water, making them ideal for the proper growth of many species.
The problem is that industrial agriculture has created a natural nitrogen deficiency in the soil.
Farmers must then invest a lot of resources in the purchase of fertilizers based on synthetic nitrogen, which is not of the same quality.
Therefore, the nitrogen taken up by Paulownia could solve this problem as the tree releases a quantity of nitrogen directly into the soil.
However, most of the nitrogen uptaken is stored in the leaves of the tree and for this reason, they serve as a very good quality fertilizer.
Timber properties of Imperial Paulownia
We have talked a lot about the qualities of the tree, but now we’ll focus on its wood, which by the way is not far behind in quality and variety of uses.
Characteristics of Imperial Paulownia wood
The wood of all Paulownia species is light and strong at the same time.
Color
Heartwood (mature and usable wood)
Brown with gray shades, although sometimes it can be reddish or violet shades.
Sapwood (young wood almost never usable)
Pale yellow, almost white.
Fiber
Straight, although it can sometimes be a little crisscrossed. Remember that the straighter the grain of the wood, the easier it will be to handle.
Density
It is one of the lightest woods in the world with a density of 265 kg/m3.
Hardness
According to the Janka scale, Imperial Paulownia has a score of 1330 newtons or pounds strength. This means that it is an extremely soft wood and therefore very malleable.
Durability
Paulownia wood is very resistant to weathering and the passage of time; it maintains its natural appearance well over a long period of time.
In terms of humidity, it has intermediate to good resistance. However, it is susceptible to attack by wood-boring insects.
In addition, this wood is more resistant to fire than other species.
Workability
Paulownia is one of the most workable woods in the world.
However, due to its dust, it can be rather difficult to cut as this dust reduces the sharpness of manual and mechanical tools such as saws.
On the other hand, Pawlounia gives very good finishes because it is a porous wood, meaning that it absorbs paint, oil or varnish well.
Uses
The main wood use of Paulownia imperial is the production of glue laminated panels.
- Cabinetmaking.
- Manufacture of boxes for gifts.
- Lutherie (manufacture of musical instruments), especially the construction of bodies of electric guitars.
- Shoe manufacturing.
- Carving.
- Interior carpentry (doors, window frames).
- Manufacture of surfboards.
- Biomass processing, i.e. materials that are used as fuels.
- Extraction of mineral coal.
In addition, it seems that it can serve as a vermicide, i.e. it is believed that its leaves can be used to produce compounds with antiparasitic effects.
Price
The price of Paulownia wood depends mainly on tree availability, that is, in areas where its cultivation is massive (Asia), prices are usually low and the wood is very economical considering its extraordinary quality.
On the other hand, its importation can be very expensive, especially due to transportation costs.
In addition, the cultivation of Paulownia for commercial purposes has become popular in several American countries, not only in the United States but also in places such as Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
Something similar has happened in Europe: in Spain, the species is already cultivated and in a few years they will have enough specimens to supply the market in the region.
Therefore, as the supply of Paulownia is increasing, it is expected that prices will remain constant or even go down.
Anyway, it is worth mentioning that the best quality Paulownia is the Asian one, so you should take that into account according to the use you plan to give to the wood.
Now we want to give you some advice in case you are thinking of starting your own cultivation of Paulownia or any other species.
Growing trees can be very profitable
Trees are creatures providing sustenance to the entire ecosystem where they grow; they purify the air, improve the soil conditions, provide protection and shade to smaller crops and serve as habitat for many species.
They can also be a source of income if they are cultivated and given all the care they need to grow and mature healthily since they will also produce good quality wood, which is a material that is always in high demand.
Aspects to consider before starting to grow trees
Decide what type of tree you want to plant
First of all, you must consider the area where you live or the area where you will plant the trees because each species needs specific conditions for optimal growth.
For example, if you live in Norway, you should start an ash tree plantation since the climate and soil conditions of the country are suitable for its growth.
On the other hand, you would not want to start a Teak plantation as it is a tropical species and therefore needs totally different soil and climatic conditions that will be very difficult or simply impossible to replicate.
Remember that the idea is that the crop you choose grows healthy in the place you have destined for its cultivation, and the more specimens you have and the healthier they are, the greater your profit will be when you get a buyer for your crop.
What species should you choose?
In general, you need to look for trees that produce very good wood, have a high growth rate and at the same time are easy to plant.
Also, keep in mind that timber trees cannot be felled before they reach a height of at least 4 to 4.5 meters as that is the minimum size from which timber can be commercially harvested.
However, if you wait until the tree reaches a greater height, the probability of obtaining more profit will be much greater.
Likewise, it is recommended that you have a growth plan in your plantation; this means that you should not cut all the trees at the same time but rather have trees in different stages of growth (some young, some older, and some newly planted).
This is so that you can ensure the sustainable production of the plants but also make a profit from all the specimens since you can get money for the younger trees that have a good size, but you can even get more profit from an older one that has produced more and better timber.
Growth speed
We have said before that the speed of growth is very important because we need the tree to reach an adequate height and size to extract its wood in the shortest possible time.
Likewise, the tree must grow fast to be able to reforest as soon as possible, that is to say, we must make sure that the tree we cut down is replaced by others that are beginning to grow.
Remember that it is not necessary for the tree to reach 100% of its size or maturity before you can cut it; if this were the case you would have to wait between 40 and 60 years to cut certain species such as oak.
What you must do is guarantee that the tree grows enough for you to obtain good wood of good value in the market.
How to take care of the trees
In general, we can tell you that, in most species, the basic care is limited to ensure that the soil is adequate, that is, make sure that the soil contains moisture, nutrients, and optimal acidity or alkalinity for the good growth of the plant.
In addition, you must know very well the climatic conditions that each plant needs to grow well; in other words, you must know which trees need more or less sunlight, as well as which species do not tolerate flooding well.
Another important thing to take into account is frost and drought since they imply that you must be even more attentive to the trees.
Remember that some species tolerate frosts quite well but do not tolerate droughts or vice versa.
On the other hand, you must be willing to invest time and money to carry out a good pruning of the trees.
This means cutting off any branches that may be diseased or even the healthy ones that the tree has left over. In this way the plant focuses on generating more wood in the trunk, helping the wood to be denser and, in most cases, harder and more resistant.
Therefore, keep in mind that, if you are not an expert in pruning, it will be better to hire the services of a professional. Bad pruning can generate, in the best of cases, knots or other “imperfections” that, in a certain number, can be acceptable and even desired by buyers but in excess can make your wood lose value.
Finding the market
Finally, once tree production has begun it is time to find a market where it is possible to sell the product (in this case the lumber).
One of the most important factors to consider is the distance to the sawmills: the farther away they are from the plantation, the higher the transportation costs will be.
However, sawmills are usually a good place to sell timber as they may need to purchase the material or if that is not the case, you can also meet customers there. In addition, you also have all the possibilities offered by the internet to promote your business.