Practical
Plants

Paulownia tomentosa

Foxglove Tree

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Paulownia genus in the family Scrophulariaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
15 m
Spread
10 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains some potentially toxic compounds[10].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - cooked. An emergency food, used when all else fails[5][7]. Flowers[5]. Eaten with miso[7].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the leaves is used to wash foul ulcers and is also said to promote the growth of hair and prevent greying[9][10]. The leaves are also poulticed onto bruises[9]. The leaf juice is used in the treatment of warts[9][10]. The flowers are used in the treatment of skin ailments[6][9]. A tincture of the inner bark is used in the treatment of fevers and delirium[9]. It is astringent and vermifuge[6][9].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Vermifuge
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - not attacked by insects. Used for making boxes, clogs, furniture, musical instruments etc. Good for posts and beams in construction[13][14][4][6]. A source of charcoal[13][14].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Woods, 1300 - 2000 metres in W. China[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[8]. Sow stored seed in late winter in a greenhouse at 15 - 20°c[15]. The seed requires light for germination[8]. Fair to good germination. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Overwinter in a cold frame for its first year and plant out in late spring[8]. Root cuttings 4cm long in December. Good percentage[15].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a deep moderately fertile moisture retentive but well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[3][8]. Plants are tolerant of atmospheric pollution[8]. A very ornamental and fast growing plant[3]. The flower buds are formed in autumn and can be excited into premature growth during mild winter weather, this growth is then more susceptible to frost damage[1][3]. The flower buds are hardy to about -15°c when dormant[8]. Plants, and especially seedlings less than 2 years old, are frost tender when young[3][8]. They do not flower reliably in maritime zones, this is probably due to insufficient warmth and dryness in the summer[8]. Branches tend to be brittle[8]. The flowers have a delicate sweet fragrance[11]. Trees can be coppiced annually, they will then produce very vigorous growth with leaves up to 1 metre wide[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Wilson. E. H. and Trollope. M. N. Corean Flora. Royal Asiatic Society 1918-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  12. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  15. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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