Paulownia tomentosa ("Kiri")

Japanese name: キリ
Scientific name: Paulownia tomentosa

[Overview]
A fast-growing deciduous tree reaching about 10 m in height.
Young branches are densely covered with stellate hairs and glandular hairs, and are sticky.
The leaves are simple and opposite, broadly ovate, 15–30 cm long and 10–25 cm wide, with entire margins, but they are often shallowly cut into 3–5 lobes.
The upper surface of the leaf is sparsely hairy, and the underside is densely covered with stellate hairs and glandular hairs.
The petiole is 6–20 cm long.
Large panicles, sometimes reaching 50 cm in length, are produced at the branch tips.
The flowers are pale purple, slightly crooked, long and bell-shaped, 5–6 cm long, with the tip divided into 5 lobes.
The fruit is an ovoid capsule 3–4 cm long.

[Uses]
The wood is light and soft with little warping, and is used for many purposes, such as chests of drawers, geta (wooden clogs), koto (Japanese zithers) and the lining of safes.
In the past, there was a custom of planting a kiri when a girl was born and making a chest of drawers from its wood as part of her bridal trousseau.
The leaves and fruits are used medicinally.
The young shoots can be eaten.
The leaves and inflorescences are stylized in the family crest called kirimon (kirikamon).

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by root cuttings.
As long as the site is sunny and well drained, it is not particular about soil and grows well even if left alone.

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