Kiri Royal Empress Tree

Learn to plant …

Paulownia Tomentosa (common names princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove tree, is a deciduous tree in the family. Paulowniaceae, native to central and western China. It is an extremely fast-growing tree with seeds that disperse readily and is a persistent exotic introduced species in North America, where it has undergone naturalization in large areas of the Eastern USA. Paulownia Tomentosa has also been introduced to Western and Central Europe and is establishing itself as a naturalized species there as well.

Germination Care

Germination care Kiri seeds should be sown in late winter. The best method to get them to germinate is to allow light to reach the seeds while they are in a humid atmosphere. This is achieved by placing the seeds superficially on the germinator substrate and covering the container with transparent wrappings that allow light to pass through (such as plastic film). In this way, the water in the soil is conserved and the seedling that will come out of the seed is protected, after approximately two months. When the plant has finished germinating, the transparent wrap should be removed to acclimatize. The implantation to a new place must wait a week after this.

Main Benefits

When growing in sandy areas this plant can enrich the soil by using its nitrogen-fixing nodules, allowing other species to move in. On sandy soils Paulownia Tomentosa may also often replace other vegetation which cannot fix nitrogen. it grows best in bright sunlight and does not handle shade well.[8] It specializes in colonizing disturbed areas and edges of woodlots before it is eventually replaced with more shade-tolerant species.

Planting Care / When to plant

Trees of this species like places with direct sun exposure. They are not good competitors against taller plants and do not grow well in shady environments. They do not have strong nutritional requirements, although in rich soils their development can be accelerated. For its good growth, it is convenient for the soil to have good drainage capacity and to increase irrigation in summer to avoid dehydration, taking care not to create a puddled area where they are planted. In case of being transplanted to a place with predicted frosts, it is good to cover them in advance to avoid damaging the foliage.

Ideal Climate

Due to their high growth rate, Kiri trees can be used as reducers of environmental CO 2 and biomass generators for the manufacture of bioethanol and cellulose. The leaves can accumulate a large proportion of nitrogen, so they can be used as natural manure or as fodder for livestock. Kiri wood was widely used in Chinese carpentry to make instruments, furniture, and other items. Due to their colonizing and anti-soil erosion abilities, they can be used to restore deforested or damaged areas. Its ornamental use in public and landscaped trees is also widely spread.