Paulownia

[sandspider]

Hi folks

 

Anyone burned the above? Seems to be a very fast growing tree and I was thinking of planting a few to coppice for firewood.

 

But, according to the internet, it seems like it needs a high firebox temperature to burn. I imagine, like most wood, it will burn OK if dry, but don't want to put a lot of time into growing it if it won't burn too well / needs to be mixed with other woods to burn.

 

Thanks.

[Steven P]

Never heard of it but google helps!! So, no but they look nice in blossom, so why not?

 

Only comment about fast growing trees - hardwoods or softwoods - is that a greater volume doesn't necessarily mean more fuel (think willow vs. oak), 

[sandspider]

True enough.

 

They also seed prolifically and spread by root suckers apparently. Happy to have one or two, but don't want too many. There's probabably a less fertile version.

[Stubby]

  On 06/04/2023 at 16:29, sandspider said:

True enough.

 

They also seed prolifically and spread by root suckers apparently. Happy to have one or two, but don't want too many. There's probabably a less fertile version.

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Why not try one of the Eucalyptus variants . Great fire wood ( split strait away as it goes off ;like concrete if left )  I think Big J planted some @BigJ

[coppice cutter]

  On 06/04/2023 at 15:30, sandspider said:

Seems to be a very fast growing tree and I was thinking of planting a few to coppice for firewood.

 

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Fastest growing tree that you can plant in the UK I read?

[Suffolk Dave]

I have been told that a company is leasing various block land over east anglia and planting paulownia as short coarse rotation , for biomass production,  told it is a good hardwood and burns well, 

[Suffolk Dave]

New carbon-cutting hybrid trees to be planted at Euston Estate and at three Norfolk sites

WWW.SUFFOLKNEWS.CO.UK

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'It’s a win-win for the climate and for farmers.'

Here's a link I found

[sandspider]

  On 06/04/2023 at 18:00, Stubby said:

Why not try one of the Eucalyptus variants . Great fire wood ( split strait away as it goes off ;like concrete if left )  I think Big J planted some @BigJ

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I've got lots of eucs already, grown from seed and coppiced, burning it the winter just finished. Amazing growth, but apparently Paulownia is faster still.

[sandspider]

  On 06/04/2023 at 18:07, coppice cutter said:

Fastest growing tree that you can plant in the UK I read?

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So I read too. And given that my eucs have grown amazingly (10m tall, 30cm across at the base at least in about 4 years) I'm curious to see how fast it can go.

[Mick Dempsey]

I suspect it’ll be rubbish firewood, waste of time.

 

Euc is good but several days of sub zero temps will kill it.

 

Sweet chestnut, hornbeam or acacia is your best bet.