mbox-36: Re: Paulownia Trees from China

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Paulownia has escaped cultivation in the mid-Atlantic states, to invade =
highway cuts, disturbed areas, and native forests. In the native forest =
areas it seems to disrupt the undergrowth, eliminating native shrubs. =
(I could not discern whether this was due to soil disturbance or change =
of soil organisms.) The 'cute' purple flowers and potential rapid =
growth aid sales of Paulownia trees offered by mail order catalogues. =
While these are field observations and not scientifically backed, the =
forest biologists I have spoken to take a dim view of the species. =
Previous posts have indicated brittle wood with wind and ice damage. =
The trees offer few redeeming qualities and no wildlife value. From an =
environmental standpoint I could not recommend planting more invasive =
exotic species. I highly recommend that the Georgia Land Stewardship =
Assoc. read Alien Invasion: America's Battle With Non-Native Animals =
and Plants, by Robert S. Devine. Paulownia is not as invasive as =
Melaleuca, Kudzu, or Norway Maples, but please consider the health of =
forests near the propagation areas.

Mary
Craig Wrote:
Some discussions on the Georgia Land Stewardship list have addressed =
this tree native to China with a deep tap root, pounds of leaves, and a =
life of some 10 years to have a viable timber product. Previous Sanet =
posts have mentioned its ability to aid in reclaiming sites of hog =
waste.
=20
The issue of introducing the species to this area with out =
understanding its impact on the balance of our eco system was raised.
Is there a useful insight as to introducing yet another foreign plant =
into our region (Southeast)? Does anyone know of potential problems with =
this tree?
=20
Thank you
=20
Incidentally see the Georgia Land Stewardship Assoc.. site at
http://www.pd.org/~glsa/=20

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Paulownia has escaped cultivation in the = mid-Atlantic=20 states, to invade highway cuts, disturbed areas, and native = forests. In=20 the native forest areas it seems to disrupt the undergrowth, eliminating = native=20 shrubs. (I could not discern whether this was due to soil = disturbance or=20 change of soil organisms.) The 'cute' purple flowers and potential = rapid=20 growth aid sales of Paulownia trees offered by mail order = catalogues. =20 While these are field observations and not scientifically backed, the = forest=20 biologists I have spoken to take a dim view of the species. = Previous posts=20 have indicated brittle wood with wind and ice damage. The trees = offer few=20 redeeming qualities and no wildlife value. From an environmental=20 standpoint I could not recommend planting more invasive exotic = species. I=20 highly recommend that the Georgia Land Stewardship Assoc. read = Alien=20 Invasion: America's Battle With Non-Native Animals and=20 Plants, by Robert S. Devine. Paulownia is not as = invasive as=20 Melaleuca, Kudzu, or Norway Maples, but please consider the health of = forests=20 near the propagation areas.