On May 17, 8:36 am, Chris Hogg wrote:
Arnold-Forster ('Shrubs for the Milder Counties', Country Life, 1948)
warns of a potential problem with Paulownia in that it sets its flower
buds in the autumn, so they are liable to damage by frost etc. through
the winter before flowering in May. He also says that it's tender when
young, and he is rather sceptical about it's ability to thrive in the
UK climate other than on the south coast, saying it is apt to be gaunt
in habit, and that it prefers hotter summers than ours. But he was
writing 60 years ago when the climate was colder, and if you've seen
one in France near you that is flourishing, go for it.

IME, it germinates embarrassingly easily from fresh seed. If you
rummage around on the ground underneath that tree you will find seed
capsules that may still contain seeds from last year, or perhaps
collect them from the lower branches.

--

Chris

Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Hi Chris, thanks for that. I couldn't reach even the lower branches,
that why I threw stones up to try and knock off the seeds. I'm
surprised it thrives here as the Winter is vicious. It is growing in
a small square in Auzon, which is about 50 kilometres South of
Clermont Ferrand, so we are fairly well set for good weather but
because of the altitude, we are in the Massif Central, we get snow and
lots of it. If we go skiing with friends or family (I no longer ski)
we got to Super Besse which is not that far from our home, take a look
at the weather there!!!

I will drive down to Auzon in a few days and scrabble on the ground
and see what I can find - thanks.

Judith