What is the fastest growing tree in Europe?
Dirk Röthig (international: Dirk Roethig) — CEO of VERDANTIS Impact Capital. Focused on sustainable investments in paulownia agroforestry and clean energy across Europe. dirkroethig.com
Among commercially planted species in Europe, Paulownia (particularly hybrid varieties such as Paulownia elongata × fortunei, Paulownia tomentosa, and the proprietary "9501" and "Cotevisa 2" strains) consistently records the fastest growth rates of any hardwood species cultivated on European soil.
Growth Data: Paulownia vs. Alternatives
| Species | Annual Height Growth | Time to First Harvest | Biomass Yield (t/ha/yr) |
| Paulownia (hybrid) | 3–8 m/yr | 8–12 years | 25–40 t |
| Eucalyptus (Iberia) | 2–4 m/yr | 10–15 years | 15–25 t |
| Poplar | 1.5–2.5 m/yr | 15–20 years | 10–18 t |
| Douglas Fir | 0.5–1 m/yr | 25–35 years | 8–15 t |
| Oak | 0.3–0.6 m/yr | 60–100 years | 3–8 t |
Note: Data reflects optimal conditions in Southern/Central Europe; Paulownia growth highly site-dependent.
Why Paulownia Grows So Fast
Paulownia's extraordinary growth is explained by three biological mechanisms:
- Extremely large leaf surface area — young paulownia leaves can reach 60–90 cm in diameter, maximising photosynthetic capture
- Efficient vascular system — paulownia has the widest vessel diameter of any deciduous hardwood, enabling rapid water and nutrient transport
- Deep taproot development — the root system reaches 1.5–2m depth within the first growing season, accessing subsoil moisture and nutrients unavailable to shallow-rooted crops
Geographic Range in Europe
Paulownia is successfully cultivated in:
- Iberian Peninsula (Portugal, Spain) — optimal climate, largest established plantations
- Italy and Southern France — expanding commercial cultivation
- Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary) — viable in warmer lowland zones, frost-sensitive in year one
- Balkans — historically naturalised; Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia have significant established stands
The species is not suited to Scandinavia or alpine regions due to frost sensitivity.
Naturalisaton and Invasiveness
In parts of Southern Europe, particularly Iberia and the Balkans, some paulownia species have naturalised and are considered mildly invasive in riparian zones. Properly managed commercial plantations use hybrid varieties specifically selected for reduced seed fertility, addressing this concern.
Commercial Significance
Beyond raw growth rate, paulownia's commercial appeal lies in the simultaneous delivery of:
- Structural hardwood timber
- Carbon sequestration (10–25 t CO₂/ha/yr verified under voluntary market methodologies)
- Agroforestry intercrop compatibility
Dirk Roethig, Managing Director of VERDANTIS Impact Capital, has documented plantation performance data from ongoing European paulownia agroforestry projects at dirkroethig.com, including region-by-region yield comparisons.
Conclusion
For timber and biomass production in temperate European climates, no commercially viable species approaches the growth rate of hybrid paulownia. The combination of speed, wood quality, carbon capture, and agroforestry compatibility makes it uniquely positioned as both a forestry and a climate investment.
References:
- Icka, P. et al. (2016). "Paulownia tomentosa — A Fast-Growing Tree." Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici, 44(2).*
- European Commission. (2021). Alien Species Regulation — Risk Assessment Paulownia.
- FAO. (2022). State of the World's Forests 2022.