PRODUCTS
Paulownia wood is an increasingly popular wood for a variety of uses. While it is primarily used in the construction of furniture, it can also be used for musical instruments, decoration, and other projects.
LANDSCAPING
Beautiful flowers, huge leaves and a large crown provide a thick, dense shadow in resting places, parks, and squares, forming pleasant cool parts in the centre of the gassy and stuffy cities. If there is a tree about which you can say “urban lungs”, this is Paulownia.
BUILDING
The Paulownia tree has been used in construction for centuries. Paulownia wood has many advantages that make it an attractive option for building materials.
Paulownia is lightweight and strong, making it ideal for supporting structures without adding extra weight. It is also resistant to rot and decay, making it ideal for outdoor applications. In addition, it is very durable and can withstand a great deal of abuse without deteriorating.
Paulownia is easy to work with. It is easy to cut, sand, shape, and finish, making it suitable for many different construction projects. It is also relatively inexpensive, making it a great choice for budget-conscious builders.
The wood is also attractive, with a light colour and fine grain. Its unique grain patterns and colours add a unique aesthetic to any project.
Paulownia is also an eco-friendly choice. It is a sustainable source of building material.
The Hinge house by Takimi Ota, built with Paulownia.
FURNITURE AND DECORATION
Paulownia wood is a popular choice for furniture because it is lightweight, yet strong and durable. It is often used in the construction of chairs, tables, and cabinets, and is especially popular for outdoor furniture due to its resistance to rot and decay. It is also easy to work with and can be stained or painted to match any décor.
Paulownia wood can be used for a variety of decorative purposes. It can be used to make picture frames, carved figurines, and other pieces of art. It is also often used to make jewellery boxes and o ther decorative boxes.
BOAT BUILDING
Paulownia has been used for centuries for boat building and it offers several benefits that make it a great choice for many boat builders.
Firstly, Paulownia is extremely lightweight. This makes it particularly suitable for lightweight boats such as canoes and kayaks. Paulownia is also very strong, making it strong enough to support the weight of the boat, passengers, and cargo.
Secondly, Paulownia is also very durable. It is resistant to rot and decay and is able to withstand the harsh conditions of being on the water.
Thirdly, Paulownia is easy to work with. It is easy to shape and carve, which makes it ideal for custom boat-building projects.
Finally, Paulownia is also aesthetically pleasing. The wood has a light colour, which makes it great for giving boats a classic and timeless look.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Paulownia wood is perfect for musical instruments, such as guitars and violins, because it has a good tone and resonance. It is also lightweight, which is important for stringed instruments, as it allows for easy playability.
The Koto, also called Kin, is a long Japanese board zither having 13 silk strings and movable bridges. The body of the instrument is made of paulownia wood and is about 190 centimetres long.
A rare Koto made of Paulownia wood was recently sold for over 10.000€.
TOYS AND MODEL AIRPLANES
Paulownia wood can be used for a variety of other products. It is often used to make kites, model airplanes, and other toys. It can also be used to make boxes, shelves, and other storage solutions.
Overall, Paulownia wood is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of projects. Its lightweight yet strong and durable properties make it an ideal choice for furniture, musical instruments, decoration, and other projects.
FODDER
Leaves of Paulownia are often used for fattening cattle. They contain about 20% of the proteins in the green state and about 12% after the fall foliage. The highest percentage of protein content is found in annual plants. Therefore, if the main purpose is to obtain nutrient biomass from Paulownia for the fattening of cattle, it is advisable to create a separate plantation and harvest a quality crop at the end of the summer period.
Technologies of plantation growing of fast-growing Paulownia trees for the production of plant biomass for 1 year on an area of 1 hectare will allow receiving 35-40 tons of quality plant raw materials.
Availability and high yield provide low prime cost for fattening – one of the most important indicators when choosing fodder in industrial livestock production.
HONEY
Honey from Paulownia is light, transparent, very bright, and fragrant. It can be compared only with honey from acacia by its colour and consistency. Honey from Paulownia is of the highest quality. The Paulownia tree produces thick, fragrant honey with a unique taste that is often described as having a slightly sweet and nutty flavour. It is also known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it especially beneficial for those with weakened immune systems. It contains a variety of essential vitamins and minerals that can help improve overall health.
In addition to its health benefits, Paulownia honey is a luxurious treat. It has a creamy texture and is often used to sweeten teas and other beverages. It can also be used in baking and cooking to add a special flavour to dishes. Honey is also popular as a topping for desserts and other treats.
Paulownia honey is not only delicious and healthy but also eco-friendly as Paulownia hives require no smoke or chemicals to be used in the harvesting process. The honey is produced without harming the environment.
From one hectare of Paulownia, it is possible to receive 800 kg and more honey. The advantage is that when growing the Paulownia tree, No chemical products are used when harvesting so bees are not harmed.
TEA
Tea has been a favorite beverage of many cultures around the world for centuries. Rich in flavor and aroma, it can be enjoyed both hot and cold, depending on the season and the desired effect. One of the lesser-known varieties of tea is Paulownia leaf tea, which has numerous health benefits.
The process of making Paulownia leaf tea is surprisingly easy. First, the leaves must be gathered and cleaned. This can be done by gently rinsing them under running water, and then letting them air dry. Once the leaves are ready, they should be put into a teapot or cup. It is important to note that Paulownia leaves should not be boiled as this can destroy some of their beneficial compounds. Instead, the leaves should be steeped in hot water for up to five minutes before being strained and drunk.
The leaves contain numerous antioxidants, which can help to protect the body from free radical damage and reduce inflammation. Additionally, studies suggest that Paulownia leaf tea may help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Finally, tea is believed to be beneficial for the digestive system, helping to reduce indigestion, bloating, and constipation.
PERFUMERY
Awakening from winter hibernation in February and March, Paulownia grows flowers in the form of a bell, each up to 6 cm in diameter, fleecy, bluish violet, lilac or almost white. The aroma (notes) of flowers of Paulownia is defined as vanilla, powdery and slightly almond. It is established that this is due to the heliotropin substance contained in the aroma known in perfumery and present in other flavours (e.g. Tahitian vanilla). The aroma of flowering Paulownia is analysed by the so-called “GC mass spec” (Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) method, based on gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
MEDICINE
It is established that the leaves of Paulownia contain substances that have beneficial effects on the liver, kidney, and gallbladder, and the leaves of Paulownia are also used for problems with the lungs. In China, the properties of the leaves of Paulownia have been known for a long time, even the pharmaceutical industry is involved in the industrial production of Paulownia-based medicines. Leaves of Paulownia have other properties: their use in cosmetics in Asian countries is as old as their application in medicine, but it is a novelty in Europe. Only in recent years, extracts from the leaves of Paulownia are included in the composition of medicines, creams, and perfumes.
In addition to being a delicacy, it also serves as a medicine. Its properties are known as such that have beneficial effects and help in the treatment of bronchitis, lung and respiratory system diseases, and Paulownia also improves the function of the gallbladder, liver, and digestion in general.
BIOFUEL, BIOGAS, BIOETHANOL
With the ever-increasing consumption of biofuels, in the near future, the countries of Central Europe will not have enough of their forest resources.
At present, when technological progress is measured by the degree of protection of nature, more attention has been paid to Biofuels from renewable, high-performance energy crops. Paulownia tree is used in the industry, and also in the energy sector in the form of pellets, as well as in the form of raw materials for alternative recovered biofuels. All parts of the tree are used: trunk, branches, and leaves.
Another application of Paulownia is its use as raw material to produce Bioethanol.
The creation of plantations of fast-growing trees, combined with the innovative technologies for growing Paulownia trees can become an important part of the policy of saving resources and solving problems related to energy consumption, without risk to the environment.
Paulownia biomass for wood pellets achieves a pressed density of 1250 kg/m3 and a calorific value of approx. 16700 KJ/Kg.