This Paulownia doesn’t approach the state champion in overall size but it is very tall for the species. Most mature Paulownia are about 40 feet tall; the Pennsylvania state champion is 57 feet tall; the F&M specimen, meanwhile, is closer to 75. This is probably one of the tallest Princess Trees in the county.
A decade or two ago Paulownia wood was extremely valuable. While cherry, oak, and hickory might sell for $5-8 per board-foot, Paulownia went for $20. This gave rise to tree rustlers who cut and stole Paulownia in the dead of night. And Lancaster County had a reputation for having lumber mills that would buy Paulownia stolen in Mary Maryland “with no questions asked” [Brian Goodman, The Dagger, July 16, 2008].
This amazing species is the fastest growing hardwood, capable of adding as much as 15 feet a year when young.
