Wood Species Guide
Paulownia
Paulownia tomentosa
Also called: Kiri, Empress Tree, Princess Tree, Royal Paulownia, Foxglove Tree
What Paulownia looks like
Pale tan to light grayish brown, sometimes with a faint pinkish or silvery cast. Heartwood and sapwood look much the same.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a fairly coarse texture and visible growth rings. It has a soft, dry feel and a satin sheen.
Working Paulownia: planing, cutting and gluing
Extremely light and soft, so it cuts, planes and carves with almost no effort. The flip side is that it dents and crushes easily, and screws strip out unless you use inserts or glue blocks. Keep tools sharp to avoid fuzzy surfaces.
Finishing Paulownia: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes paint and clear finishes well, though the soft surface soaks up the first coat. A sanding sealer evens things out. Under epoxy, seal first, because the porous wood releases a lot of air.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Surprisingly resistant to decay for such a light wood, and it is very stable with little movement. It is too soft for traffic or heavy wear. In Florida it holds its shape well indoors; outdoors it needs a good finish and is better for light-duty pieces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Paulownia is the go-to when weight matters: surfboard and paddleboard cores, drawer boxes, cosplay builds, lightweight shelving and electric guitar bodies. It is too soft for a tabletop that sees daily use. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Paulownia
Surfboards and paddleboards, boxes and chests, drawer parts, plywood cores, electric guitar bodies, clogs, carving and lightweight furniture.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Paulownia is fast growing and widely planted, but it has escaped cultivation and is treated as invasive in parts of the eastern US. It is not on the Florida Invasive Species Council list.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. No reactions beyond ordinary dust irritation are documented.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
No reactions beyond ordinary wood dust irritation have been reported. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Paulownia in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Paulownia listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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