Paulownia - Vorläufige ergebnisse zu möglichkeiten und grenzen des anbaus im wald

The Paulownia tree (Paulownia spec., aka. princess tree, empress tree, royal Paulownia, foxglove tree) with its rapid growth, high quality wood, an all-around possibility of use and a promising prognosis in terms of climate change might be an interesting option as a forest tree species in warmer regions of Bavaria. In fall 2011, the chair of silviculture of Technical University Munich created three experimental plots at different forest sites in Bavaria (Großostheim, Landshut, Beuerberg). Both for silvicultural suitability as well as aspects of invasiveness, there are interesting preliminary results after two growing seasons. None of the Paulownia species or origins could convince as potential alternative forest tree species under field conditions. There was massive failure (Großostheim 23%, Landshut 32%, Beuerberg 96%). Outside the wine-growing climate and without intensive care, which is hardly justifiable from an economic point of view, complete failure has to be expected. Most of the surviving trees showed an unsatisfactory growth. Only a very small part of plants grew fast enough for an economic timber or energy wood production. Particularly the production of value timber requires a high amount of care, because of bad stem forms and branches. Root suckers occurred only in a very limited extent at 5% of plants, and this is very likely due to the intensive limitation of competing vegetation around the stem. A problematic and uncontrollable spread via root suckers is considered as very unlikely under forest conditions. The spread due to lightweight seeds of Paulownia is expected to play a more important role, but probably only outside the forest. There, the establishment of seedlings is possibly due to the low competitive ability to forest species and the great need for light of Paulownia spec.