Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Hobden
Driving through Twickenham yesterday and near the Green there was a
Paulownia in perfect full flower, my wife exclaimed " that can't be a
Jacaranda", but it did look that good.
Most gardeners seem to coppice them annually so they get the huge leaves but
maybe it's better to let them grow if you have the room. It's obviously
taken what the last few winters have thrown at it and survived well.
|
You need a lot of room. Also it can be difficult to see the flowers unless you have a vantage point from a raised location, or can get a long way back from it.
There was a large Paulownia I knew at university in the 80s and it flowered fine after the cold winter of 1981/2 when temps fell locally to about -15C. Given its maturity if must have come through the cold winters of the early 60s too.
It grows in a continental climate so it is used to cold winters. What is good about it is that it flowers and grows well even in the cool summers of Britain, whereas many trees from continental climates don't do well unless you give them a hot summer, however winter hardy they may be.