Palm and Paulownia trees

[Donna]

Does anyone have suggestions or advise on planting palm trees down in South GA.? I heard some are dyeing from something. Also, when can you get the seeds from your Paulownia tree to plant? I noticed I had seed pods on the ground under my trees just this last week, so I  disected them to find nothing more than mush. I guess I should just get some mail order seeds. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated! ( I want to plant some more Paulownia trees, but the growers are OUT OF THEIR MINDS if they think I will pay $18 bucks for a 6 inch seedling! So I will just start them myself!) 

[WDH]

Good for you!  Start them yourself.  If you want some info on how to handle the seeds to maximize germination (if you get any from your Pawlonia trees), let me know.  I have the Seed Handbook from the USDA for forest trees that I kept from my forestry school days in the 1970's.  It has come in handy several times.

I know absolutely nothing about palms................

[SwampDonkey]

Tom might have some idea about the palm. He has commented on their use for lumber before.

[333_okh]

The mush you found is the seeds.  They are extremely tiney.

[LOGDOG]

Is it true that Paulownia trees grow like they're on steroids? I've heard stories about them reaching 20" DBH in 7 years. Any truth to it?

LOGDOG

[Tom]

There's some paulownia threads in the Forum that talk about growth.   I cut some 1x6's from a 3 year old tree once.  Paulownia has a void up the middle where the pith is and it closes as the tree grows.  Even though the log is big in diameter, it might not be solid yet.

I was very impressed with the lumber.  It is light, cuts easily, is strong, and I understand it is insect and rot resistant.

[Tom]

Link to second thread of Paulownia Experiment on the forum

The Experiment was started in the beginning days of the forum and it seems that Raviola Kid had the most luck.  Search for the first thread for posts on planting seeds, etc.

[Donna]

Hi guys, thanks for the info. I just got some paulownia seeds in the mail. WDH, I would love it if you could look up how I can make the best germination from them. And yes, they are the fastest trees I have ever seen grow. When I planted my first seedlings, thet reached 12 ft the first year. 20 ft by the 5th. Now I did help them out a bit.  I had a little kiddie pool right next to one of them and it was for my ducks, so every day I would dump the duck-doo water right on the root base. The other tree had a another pool under it, where my capybara would poo in the water and I would dump that on it every day. Now those trees where definately on steroids!!

[WDH]

Donna,

I looked up paulownia in the seed manual, and the info sketchy for this species.  The book says the seeds exhibit no dormancy which means that you probably do not have to let them undergo a cold stratification where the seeds must be maintained at or below a target temperature for a specified number of days.  In any case, I would leave the seeds in a unheated room/garage, etc. until you are ready to plant them.  The book also said that the seed needs light to germinate.  The book referenced a test from seed collected in Arkansas where the germination rate was 90% in 19 days when tested on moist Kimpak (that must be some type of soil meduim) with alternating temperatures of 68 degrees and 86 degrees.  Eight hours of light was supplied during the 86 degree cycle.  The book also says that nursery experience is lacking on this species (the book was published in 1974), but surface sowing on very moist and shaded nyrsery beds would probably succeed.   

What this means to me is that you should wait until it warms up before you sow the seed.  It looks like you just need to press the seed into the soil surface and not fully cover it up.  I am specualting, but that is what I conclude from the references in the seed manual.  Since Paulownia has become more popular since the book was published, there may be more up-to-date info on how to plant the seeds.  If I come across anything, I will let you know.  If anyboby elso has some experience or knows where to get info on how to germinate the seeds, Speak Up!!

[WDH]

I found this on Google:

  Germination guide for Paulownia tomentosa

Paulownia tomentosa seeds will usually germinate in 30-60 days. Normally Paulownia tomentosa will only germinate with light, GA-3 may promote germination - even in the dark. Sow Paulownia tomentosa seeds on the surface of a Peaty seed sowing mix at about 12-20°C.

So it does look like you should not fully cover up the seeds because they need to be exposed to light.

[SwampDonkey]

I think Kimpak is similar to moistened paper towel, it's just germination paper. Sometimes they use branded names for simple things. Keeps everyone wowed and disillusioned if your outside the scientific spectrum.

[333_okh]

Is it true that Paulownia trees grow like they're on steroids? I've heard stories about them reaching 20" DBH in 7 years. Any truth to it?

LOGDOG

I cut one from a backyard that was 18 inches and they said it was planted when they built the house and that was 8 years.  It was in an area that did NOT get watered either.

[Ernie]

They grow real well from small root cuttings about 4 inches long and little finger diameter.

[Donna]

Thanks for the info.. I want to jump start them if I can, and since I have so many seeds, I think I'll try and start some inside.