Five years of Paulownia field trials in North Carolina

Performance of Paulownia elongata, Paulownia fortunei, and Paulownia x 'Henan 1' was monitored at three sites in North Carolina between 1996 and 2000, and P. elongata clones were tested at an additional two sites. The primary objective was to define the potential for growing Paulownia in the state. Species and clones within species differed in survival and height and diameter growth whenever genotype was included as a treatment. P. elongata was superior at two and P. fortunei was superior at one of the three sites that included P. elongata, P. fortunei, and P. x 'Henan 1'. Trees produced through vegetative means were more likely to survive and were taller and of greater DBH than seed produced trees. Mortality in trees produced from seed was greater for P. fortunei and P. x 'Henan 1' than for P. elongata. Application of animal waste or different rates of nitrogen as inorganic fertilizer did not have a pronounced effect on tree survival and growth.