Princesstree,Paulownia tomentosa
(Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. ex
Steud., is also called empresstree, royal paulownia, and cottonwood. Cottonwood is used locally due to the superficial resembelance of the seed pods to cotton bolls, although it would be conceivable that this could refer to an exaggeration of the weight of the wood. When I was growing up we called it grape tree since the clusters of green seed pods looked like a cluster of large green grapes. A few friends of mine now call it bologna-tree probably due to a combination of my accent, and them only remembering that (my pronunciation of) the generic name rhymed with (or sounded like) bologna. All these different common names can cause frustration and confusion when first trying to discuss them with somebody that doesn't know the difference thus thinking a paulownia it a cottonwood and perhaps a poplar along with tulip-tree, Liriodendron
tulipfera L., while true poplars are denied even being poplars including as white poplar, Populusalba L., being mistaken for silver maple., Acer saccharinum L., while dormant red maples were transplanted after being mistaken for flowering dogwoods, Cornus florida L., which has a whole other story due to an inaccurate legend.
Princesstree is an invasive exotic species that typically sprouts in disturbed areas ranging from flower beds often next to structures, to roadsides, and clearings created deep within a forest. The potential seed bank is massive since a mature tree may have over a hundred flower clusters each producing about a hundred seed pods that have seemingly thousands of seed each. The wood is relatively valuable at about $3-4 per board foot so lots of people have planted plantations. These were often treated like get rich quick schemes thus appealing to the lazy considering how one near me has dozens of trees that are busting out of the pots they came in since the owner never got around to planting them. I imagine many of those growing these trees will soon be disappointed when they all hit the market at the same time and the price drops. In addition the freeze over Easter in 2007 severely damaged these trees thus they will likely be unmarketable due to rot and other major flaws.
I use these trees and prevent further spread by cutting them down each year to make hiking sticks. The value of the wood comes the properties where it is light weight, strong, and dimensionally stable. It is shipped to China (where it is native) and is reportedly used to make both sandals and high heels among many other things. In Japan, where it was claimed to have been harvested to extinction, it is also reported to be used for construction especially religious structures. I've seen old style wooden dough kneading bowls carved from it and due to the dimensional stability of the wood it is not as likely to crack like so many of the antique bowls.
