Adam's tree (otherwise paulownia) is an incredibly beautiful plant that has become widespread in almost all corners of the planet and is successfully cultivated in gardens, parks, greenhouses.
The "Princess Tree" or "Dragon Tree" (as it is known in China) is especially prized for its magnificent late-spring blooms and beautiful velvety foliage. It was nicknamed Paulownia in honor of Anna Pavlovna, Queen of the Netherlands, daughter of Emperor Paul I of Russia. It was this beautiful woman who helped organize the expedition, which discovered and described the incredibly attractive paulownia.
Adam tree: what does it look like?
Paulownia is characterized by a cylindrical trunk, a spreading round or ovoid crown, huge velvet leaves on long petioles, bright purple-blue (cream, pink) tubular bell-flowers, united in vertical inflorescences about 30-50 cm long. The flowers are quite large - about 6 cm in diameter. They look like a thimble, with a yellow stripe inside. The buds are born at the end of summer, and blooming takes place in April-May.
The fruits of the Adam tree are gray-brown boxes with a large number of winged small seeds, ripening in September-October and remaining on the tree throughout the winter. Belonging to the Paulowniaceae family, the Adam tree reaches 15-20 meters in height and is distributed in Southeast Asia, the southern and western regions of Ukraine, the Caucasus, the Far East, and in the Crimea. Also grown in landscape gardens in North America and Europe.
Interesting signs
Adam's tree, planting and caring for which is not particularly difficult, is associated with many signs. So, in Japan, this attractive plant is acquired if a daughter is born in the family. They cut down the paulownia and make a good master's chest out of it when the girl grows up and marries. Wood is difficult to burn, which makes it possible to store valuable items in chests made of the material of this tree. Also, according to popular beliefs, a phoenix bird flies to houses near which paulownia grows, bringing happiness on its wings.
The positive factors in the cultivation of the Adam tree are its active growth and rapidly developing root system, which allows planting areas threatened by erosion. Also, these features of the plant are used when re-planting areas burned out by fires. Paulownia, which gives a dense shade and is characterized by active photosynthesis, is in demand for landscaping megacities, and its foliage, which, in terms of the content of proteins and theirquality similar to alfalfa, is a quality raw material for the production of fodder.
Adam Tree Application
Adam tree flowers, with a vanilla, slightly almond flavor, are successfully used in the manufacture of creams and perfumes, and in some European countries, filled with cream, they are considered the most delicious delicacy. Bees collect excellent honey from paulownia flowers: fragrant, transparent, light, the quality characteristics of which can be compared with an equivalent product from acacia. Adam's tree honey is successfully used in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems.
The healing properties of paulownia in Chinese medicine have been known since ancient times; on an industrial basis, medicines are made from the leaves, which contain a huge amount of useful substances. Their action is aimed at improving the functioning of internal organs.
Qualitative characteristics of paulownia wood
Adam's tree is a plant that is characterized by such valuable qualities as resistance to moisture absorption, low fire hazard and the ability to accumulate tannin, which prevents termites and grinder beetles from eating the tree. That is why the wood of the Adam tree is used in the manufacture of various products: from parts for ships and aircraft structures to toys and musical instruments. Paulownia does not absorb wood varnishes and epoxy resins, which, in combination with its low water permeability, makes it an optimal raw material for the production of sports equipment: skis, boats, boards forsurfing, snowboarding.
Paulownia bloom
Adam's tree is a real find for those who want to acquire an actively growing crop on their site with a minimum amount of effort. The plant is able to actively develop in a tub or large capacity. Even grown from seeds, it will please with excellent results. Please note: this is not an "Adam's apple" tree (otherwise - Maclura), do not confuse them. Flowering occurs after 3-5 years of planting and lasts for 6 weeks.
There is such a bewitching sight before the leaves bloom. Adam's tree, whose flower is incredibly beautiful and fragrant, is quite capable of enduring mild short-term frosts. In case of freezing of the trunk and branches, it can easily be reborn in the spring: new young shoots will appear from the roots and in outdoor conditions will have time to grow to a height of 1.5-3.0 meters before the onset of new cold weather. The root of the Adam tree is multi-core, capable of reaching 4.5-6 meters in depth.
Seed propagation
Adam's tree at home is easily propagated by seeds, which are enough to pour onto the surface of fertile soil, sprinkle with water from a spray bottle and cover with glass, creating a kind of greenhouse. Seed germination period is six months.
From the moment the shoots appear (this happens after two weeks), the latter should be accustomed to natural conditions: ventilate every day, raising the glass and gradually increasing the time. After 10 daysglass can be removed completely, and mature plants can be planted in separate medium-sized containers. It is important with this method of propagation to maintain the required level of humidity, avoiding waterlogging - the reasons for the development of putrefactive bacteria that are harmful to the plant.
Propagation by cuttings and root suckers
Less problematic is growing from cuttings and root suckers, which in the summer-autumn period must be carefully separated from the mother plant and rooted in a nutrient substrate. In the spring, you can land on a permanent place of growth, leaving 2-3 cm of the stem above the soil surface. The growth of young trees comes from the place of the cut, so a high stalk will cause a curvature of the tree trunk and a deterioration in the quality of the wood. Usually a young plant grows in the form of two shoots. One of them, weaker, must be removed upon reaching a height of 10 cm. Otherwise, the tree may take the form of a shrub.
Growing conditions
Adam's tree, which even an inexperienced gardener can care for, easily adapts to the soil, it is only important to ensure high soil moisture during the first period of growth, especially in spring planting. Plants planted in autumn will have enough natural rainfall. Potted Adam's tree can be planted in summer. The seedling must be carefully removed from the pot along with an earthen clod and planted in a prepared pit with a depth of 60 to 80 cm, 60 cm in diameter. Since the root system of the Adam tree is deep enough, it is recommended to loosen the soil at the bottom of the pit. For filling, usea mixture of sand, compost and sod land. You can do this with a garden pitchfork. The optimal soil for paulownia is sandy loam; the tree can also grow on clay and sandy soils. Planting an Adam tree is required to be done in open sunny areas. Undesirable, but partial shade can be tolerated.
The tree looks beautiful when planted alone among the lawn, lawn or against the background of low shrubs. It is not recommended to plant it next to other trees, because the paulownia root system can suppress the growth of neighbors.
Adam tree care
The vegetative period of the Adam tree begins in mid-April and lasts until early May. Care consists in the timely removal of weeds; this is especially true at the beginning of the growth of seedlings. At the same time, it is recommended to avoid weed control with the help of various chemicals, because the Adam tree is very sensitive to poisons and can die. Hilling will be useful.
Regular watering: 1-2 times a week, especially in the first two years of the tree's life. Moisturize the plant is required abundantly, under the root. The moisture requirement of paulownia will decrease as the root system is fully developed, capable of extracting moisture from deep layers of soil. Top dressing should be done during the first year of the tree's life once a week with high-nitrogen fertilizers, adding them to the water. An excellent top dressing for an Adam tree will be a good layer of mulch in the near-stem circle. Hay, dry leaves, straw are used as mulch,compost, peat. Sometimes an infusion of weeds can be added to irrigation water.
Of the pests, the danger for the Adam tree is the slug. You can protect yourself from it by adding spruce or pine needles, oak bark and leaves to the mulch. You can plant a tree with rosemary or borage.
