Bursting with potential - young Paulownia plantation

Paulownia are attracting the interest of a wide range of individuals from small to large farmers, new rural land owners to city investors, small business people to corporations. What do you need to successfully grow your future with Paulownia ?

Commitment: there is no point entering a new industry half-hearted. Whatever the size of your project be sure to commit the necessary funds and time to do it properly and get things right first time. It generally costs between $6000 to $10,000 per hectare in the first year to establish a 400 stem/ha. irrigated Paulownia plantation in Australia, with a further $2000 - $3000 per year for the next 2 years, dropping back to well under $1000 ongoing costs per year in the following years. Don’t over extend yourself. If you lack confidence or resources then by all means start with a small trial plantation. It’s better to have a small success than a big failure.

Land: the most important things to consider when selecting a site for a Paulownia plantation are good drainage, sunny aspect, preferably with protection from severe wind, and proximity to a target market or port. If you don’t have your own land but wish to invest in Paulownia, contact us as we may be able to help you with a land lease and plantation management program. In the state of Victoria, Australia, landmark forestry legislation has made it possible for forestry investors to own trees on other people’s land with the security that even if the land is sold the trees remain theirs.

A 4 year old P. tomentosa covered in spring blossom

Water & fertiliser: established Paulownia trees will survive harsh conditions, but they go into dormancy during droughts. To be commercially viable a Paulownia plantation needs reliable summer rainfall or irrigation during the growing season in conjunction with a well planned and maintained fertiliser programme.

Long term vision: the bulk of the investment, both in terms of money and work, is undertaken during the first 3 years when the establishment and most pruning is completed. However, ongoing management, such as slashing between rows, may be required right up to harvest. Plantation inspections are essential - good observation, common sense judgement and timely action are keys for a successful harvest.