paulownia

American  

[paw-loh-nee-uh] / pɔˈloʊ ni ə /

noun

1. a Japanese tree, Paulownia tomentosa, of the bignonia family, having showy clusters of pale-violet or blue flowers blossoming in early spring.

2. any other tree of the genus Paulownia.

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paulownia British  

/ pɔːˈləʊnɪə /

noun

1. any scrophulariaceous tree of the Japanese genus Paulownia, esp P. tomentosa, having large heart-shaped leaves and clusters of purplish or white flowers

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Etymology

Origin of paulownia

1835–45; < New Latin; named after Anna Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I of Russia; see -ia

Example Sentences

It was an ordinary log from a paulownia tree, a seasoned slice of timber that, in another life, might have gone up in smoke in the fireplace of the Carson home in Havre de Grace.

From Washington Post • Feb. 25, 2019

Around us, paulownia and ginkgoes swayed in the wind.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 8, 2018

Brought to Japan from China in the 9th century, it is fashioned out of blond paulownia wood.

From Time Magazine Archive

You're probably aware of the exotic, organic surfboard materials available today: bamboo, agave, balsa, hemp, redwood, sekopalm, koa, paulownia.

From Time Magazine Archive

Tree-ear peered between the leaves of the paulownia tree, puzzled.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park