Paulownia tomentosa of the family Scrophulariaceae. There is another botanical species name associated with paulownia, Paulownia coreana, but it is an unresolved name and I have never seen it used in association with any wood sold in the USA.
Also known as princess tree and empress tree, this is primarily an ornamental landscape tree and has the distinction of being one of the fastest growing trees in world, if not THE fastest growing (aside from bamboo, which is technically not a tree but a grass). The wood is lightweight, fairly soft, and easy to work although sometimes the presence of silica causes tool dulling. It is widely used for carving in Japan (the tree in indiginous to China and Japan but has been successfully replanted in the Americas --- some believe TOO successfully, and it is sometimes considered an invasive species)
my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions
sample plank and end grain sold to me as empress tree / princess tree / paulownia / Paulownia tomentosa
both sides of a sample plank of royal paulownia / Paulownia tomentosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
both sides of a sample plank of royal paulownia / Paulownia tomentosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
both sides of a sample plank of royal paulownia / Paulownia tomentosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
both sides of a sample plank of figured royal paulownia / Paulownia tomentosa --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.
end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above
flat cut, quartersawn, end grain
paulownia from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are present for all 3 views
I assume that the images are so much darker than what I have experienced with the wood because of aging but the purple tint seems likely to be more an effect of the photography than a true wood color.
web pics:
slabs
planks with dubious orange tint
planks, all from the same vendor
planks
bookmatched plank set
planks and closeup
plank and closeup
plank moistened with water
turning stock
crotch slab
bowl shot at a craft store; color is accurate
bowl listed as royal paulownia, but that's just another common name for the same species
princess tree bowls turned and photographed by Tom Pleatman, whom I thank for these pics and other contributions to the site. Big enlargements are present.
