Paulownia Timber

Paulownia is the fastest growing hard wood tree in the world growing up to 15 feet each year reaching full maturity at just seven years.

This fast growing hard wood tree makes it an appealing timber in architecture as well as gaining interest as a natural reforestation solution.

Paulownia originates from Southeast Asia native to China and Korea. It is often referred to as the ‘Empress tree’ or ‘Princess tree’ despite the fact that it is deemed to be an invasive tree which outcompetes native plant species.

Despite its ‘invasive’ fast-growing nature, its benefits far outweigh the cons since this fast growing hard wood tree is low maintenance and can happily thrive in areas with poor low quality soil.

Paulownia Appearance

Paulownia timber is a pale grayish brown with a coarse straight grain. Its texture is uneven due to it porosity. This fast growing hard wood tree can have a purple or maroon hue.

Paulownia in Construction

Paulownia is a sustainable timber possessing qualities which include a resistance to termites, disease, and atmospheric agents, plus insulation qualities, all of which make it a versatile workable timber in architecture. Its weight to strength ratio means that it is lighter than other timbers without compromising strength, making this fast growing hard wood tree a widely used resource within the construction industry.

As well as being the world’s fastest growing hard wood tree, Paulownia is a sustainable timber which can also be used to make furniture, window and door frames, beams, timber cladding, parquet flooring, musical instrument and more!

Are you working on a project requiring sustainable timber solutions? Contact us today!

Check out our Guide to Wood in Interior Design and Architecture