Just wanted to set the record straight when it comes to replanting a Sitka Spruce forest with Paulownia or other deciduous hardwood, and also non-deciduous Eucalyptus.
More info and buy Paulownia
A Sitka Spruce forest and indeed most conifer forests have a soil PH of around 4 to 5.7, which is acidic
Paulownia require a PH of at least 5, and grow best. and their range, between 5 and 8.5 is towards the neutral level.
It fair to say that my small Paulownia plantation isn’t in the idea spot, being North facing. Paulownia definitely like full sun and I’d also say high summer temperatures. Hydration can also be an issue, Paulownia like a lot of hydration, but don’t like having their roots in soaking soil. Paulownia are not a tree for the bog !
On a South facing slope with full sun and some shelter from severe, cold winter gales, I’d say you will have much more success and a couple of fellow enthusiasts here in Ireland have specimens which have grown three metres in a season.
Even with the disadvantages of my site, I am an enthusiast and they are growing. I’m very much looking forward to the flowers which I’m sure the bees and other pollinators will love.
One FaceBook comment I read recently suggested that in order to get good constructional timber from Paulownia, winter frosts are required to firm up the wood. The comments on the post also stated that their are hundreds of hybrids, bred to suit every environment and local, though as above my research suggests the PH must be above 5.
My impression from the four plus years I have been researching and growing; and do add any knowledge you have in the comments, is that Paulownia do best with high summer temperatures. They grow well in Southern Europe, producing the high value, quality timber Paulownia are renowned for. I doubt they have severe winter frosts in plantations in Spain, so as with all research there are contradictions.
My strong advice ! plant a small experimental forest and draw your own conclusions 😉
I’m definitely keen on experimental forestry 🙂
I like native species, Oaks, Ash, Beech and Sycamore which aren’t native, though mostly all broad leaved deciduous trees are considered fabulous by the anti non-native advocates 🙄
Anyway, the Robinia Pseudoacacia haven’t done well here, not even close, so I won’t be continuing with them. The advantage of planting small has meant I’ve learned without expending a lot of resources, time and money to find out they just aren’t suitable in my particular local.
Difficult to get a focus, but I’m sure you get the gist of it, hardly surviving, far less thriving 🙁
I did take a chance on the Eucalyptus, though there are so many varieties; some have done better than others, and after five an a half years I have reasonable knowledge of what grows best in my particular local.
Your very specific site local is the be all and end all from what I’ve gathered over the time I’ve been planting and researching.
I’m sure Viminalis would be great further inland away from the severe, possibly salty Atlantic gales, though I am at least six kilometres away from the shore. Prone to wind burn here which has hampered their growth, they can grow at three metres per year in ideal conditions, you’d be harvesting firewood in five years at that rate.
Viminalis were very frost hardy and survived the server cold snap at the end of 2022 with ease. the winter of 2022 / 23 didn’t have any severe gales and they have faired much better as a result.
Nature and climatic conditions are not static, they fluctuate.
Lush new top growth in October, the more mature leaves survive the gales, though new tender growth is susceptible to wind burn
In just over five years; fabulous wind protection for my property, something that didn’t cross my mind when I planted them
My most sturdy Viminalis
