Paulownia

The typical Paulownia grown in the UK, P. tomentosa, the foxglove tree, is a sight to behold in spring, with its incredible large purple flowers, on erect panicles, en-masse. Highlighted to a an even greater extent, as they flowers before the leaves unfurl. Younger trees can be coppiced, to produce large and textural leaves, but at the expense of flowers. Around 9 species in South East Asia.

With flowers that are clearly adapted for insect pollination, and experience elsewhere in the world where pure Paulownia honey is a valuable product for beekeepers, it is surprising that there is little written about such value in Britain. Forming an open, branched tree, Paulownia forms useful song-posts for birds, but is not dense enough for nesting for most species. One of the fastest growing trees in the world, its suitability as a commercial biomass and carbon sequestration crop is being trialled, despite concerns that it could become invasive in this country as climate continues to change.