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Common Questions
Check Out Your Paulownia Company!
Make sure they are serious and not just "Ivory Tower" workers.
Don't be fooled by imitations.......Make sure your Paulownia Supplier is real, not just a RESELLER. Check out the location of the nursery, are they licensed with the Dept. of Agriculture. Is the company available Monday - Friday to answer your questions & take your order? Beware of who you order from. Ask for a picture of your tree or seedlings before you order. There are too many reports on dead trees delivered, sticks in the mail and two inch seedlings?? "Check Out Your Supplier"
Common questions asked about Paulownia and what to ask your potential Paulownia supplier:
World Paulownia Institute is the world's largest producer and supplier of genetically superior Paulownia seedlings.
- How do I place an order?
You can place your order in several ways. Order forms can be printed from the website. Toll free 1-800-615-7306 or by fax 1-229-546-4564, by email wpi@worldpaulownia.com by regular mail to World Paulownia Institute, P.O. Box 721, Lenox, GA 31637. World Paulownia does not have online ordering as many customers have questions that need to be answered. Why order 6 months in advance and have your credit card charged immediately & not know when your delivery is going to be?? WPI charges your credit card the prior week to shipping which is pre-scheduled for your area (after your last frost) or when the customer requests a shipping date. The Paulownia Shipping Season is from April thru Sept. Placing your order early guarantees your shipping date. Dept. of Agriculture requires nurseries to ship within 90 days of receipt of payment by the seller. If no shipping date is requested or given then the shipment must be within 30 days. BE CAREFULL who you order from.
- Do you have payment options?
WPI has several different ways to pay. Check - Money Order - Cashiers Check – Mastercard, Visa, and Discover.
Placing an order early, also gives you the option to make monthly payments until your order is paid off prior to shipping. If you order early you can secure your order with a 25% deposit and pay the balance at a later date with check or credit card. International orders via wire transfer or credit card.
- When is the best time to plant and order my seedlings?
The Paulownia planting season is April through September. WPI ships daily via UPS. Most orders placed during this time will be filled immediately. Orders that are received Monday thru Wed normally ship in that week. If you want to plant early in Spring and have a selected “Frost free date” you can place your order in advance from October through March for timely delivery. A great guide to planting your Paulownia seedlings is the same time as you plant your Tomato plants. For further information please review our agricultural zones information.
- How tall are the seedlings when they are shipped?
Paulownia seedlings are fully sun hardened when they are shipped and will range from 6"-12" in height depending which month you order in.
- How quick can I receive my seedlings?
Orders are shipped Monday through Wednesday each week during the growing season. Orders placed by Wednesday will ship the same week. Nursery hours for pickup 8am - 5pm Monday thru Saturday. Nursery location.
- My seedlings have arrived and I do not have time to plant them?
Don’t panic, if your seedlings have traveled several days and through various climates they need to have time to rest and rejuvenate. Unpack your seedlings immediately, place them in direct sunlight and water once or twice a day if they seem dried out which will depend upon your temperatures. It is best to acclimatize your seedlings for 7 to 10 days prior to planting.
- How do you ship your seedlings?
UPS Ground for all Eastern States. Far West states we use 3-Day select shipping to ensure your seedlings arrive promptly and in good condition and are only shipped on a Monday & Tuesday. We do not ship to Canada or California.
- Where do my seedlings come from?
All seedlings are produced in a laboratory and are guaranteed to be disease and pathogen free, they are fully sun hardened prior to shipping from our nursery located in Lenox Georgia. Customers are welcome to pick up their seedlings. Full directions and contact information can be printed by clicking here. Make sure your paulownia supplier is real and not just a reseller.
- I need to speak to a real person?
WPI’s customer service can be reached Monday thru Friday 8am until 5pm Eastern Standard Time to help you with your orders, tracking numbers, and technical support. During the growing season weekend customer service is also available. Click here for details.
- I need technical advice. How do I check my soil? What pH should I have? What fertilizer is needed? How do I prune my trees?
Paulownia likes free draining sandy loam type soils. Paulownia will not tolerate any low or wet land. Paulownia requires a pH of 5.5 and above. You will need to test your pH each season and fertilize accordingly. Early spring and then again prior to fall. Pruning is required for the first 2 years. Pruning every 4-6 weeks in the first growing season will ensure good height growth. Once your tree reaches at least 15' it is not necessary to keep pruning the suckers out. Shade tree pruning: You only need to prune your tree up to where you want the canopy to start. If you want your canopy to start at 8 or 10 feet then you do not need to prune any higher. It is very important in all cases of pruning that you leave at least 8-10 main sets of leaves on the tree at all times. Do not over prune.
- Why do I need to space my Paulownia trees?
Paulownia is very light sensitive and needs to be planted on equal distances. 12’ x 12' = 300 trees per acre & 14' x 14' = 220 trees per acre. You can determine which spacing works best for you by the size equipment you have to keep your plantation mowed and fully maintained.
- I have wetland and want to plant Paulownia?
Paulownia will not tolerate wet or low land or standing water for long periods of time. However, WPI does have a very fast growing Poplar which we use in conjunction with planting Paulownia in the low and wet areas. Hybrid Poplar
- How tall will Paulownia grow and how deep do the roots go?
Depending on variety and soil conditions Paulownia can reach between 50 to 70 feet. Paulownia has a deep tap root of up to 45 feet.
- Are Paulownia toxic to animals?
Paulownia is very high in protein and safe for animals. However you will need to protect the trees with fencing from the horses or cattle until the tree reaches a good height so the animals do not destroy the growth of the tree by eating the terminal bud out.
- What is the lifespan of Paulownia?
Paulownia is one of the oldest recorded trees in China. The USA has some Paulownia that dates over 200 years old.
- Is Paulownia an evergreen?
Paulownia is a hardwood tree and is deciduous.
- How much water does Paulownia require?
Paulownia will not tolerate over watering. They like to dry out, then have a drink. If you continuously water every day and keep the root system too wet you will drown the tree. Signs of too much water include leaves that shrivel and turn brown.
- I have a deer and insect problem, what do I need to do?
Deer like to feed on short grasses or tasty feed plots. If you do not keep your grasses mowed or have feed plots planted, then you will encounter problems. Deer will only browse on Paulownia if they have nothing else to eat. Some successful ways of detracting deer have been reported. Scatter human hair around the fields, use the common product called "Deer Away", drill a hole in smelly soap bars and hang them on fence lines, spray your trees with hot sauce.
Caterpillars love Paulownia leaves. The main leaves to protect during the growing season is the terminal bud at the top of the tree. Remember the terminal bud promotes the height and future growth of the tree. Treat the caterpillars with Sevin dust or spray – the same used on tomatoes.
- What herbicides can I use for the grasses?
Roundup cannot be used. Paulownia has a very vigorous root system and will uptake nutrients along with herbicides very quickly. Roundup will kill your seedlings or maturing trees very quickly. Gramoxone and Fusilade are proven safe for the Paulownia however it is only a contact herbicide and only controls grasses for a short amount of time.
- What is the highest altitude my trees can withstand?
Paulownia will not tolerate an altitude higher than 2200 feet for successful fast growth during one season.
- I need help with planting my trees, do you have that service?
WPI has planting and maintenance crews, 10 acres or more is required for these services and is limited to Southeast Georgia unless pre-arranged for larger acreage.
- If I plant several acres of Paulownia, where is the market?
If you purchase seedlings from WPI the company will enter into a contract to buy back your trees. If you are not in the Southeast Georgia area we can assist you in organizing the harvest along with a purchaser, this is applicable for 10 acres or more only.
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