Japanese native trees and timber

Sorry the word I was looking for was "indigenous" not native!

Peter.

Hi Pete

What about Japanese Zelkova (Zelkove serrata), very much like and related to Elm, it's a introduced tree in North America and used in Japan for furniture and timber, I don't know if any available in England though. Japanese Maple is another one, they are rather small usually as is Japanese Yew, there are other species around, some are also native to North Eastern Asia

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Peter Charles Fagg wrote:

I don't know if you'll derive anything helpful from it or not, but if you go to , and click "common names" you'll get to a search engine that lets you search wood species by country of origin. Note that this uses not only the US government's database on wood species but also the Australian government's, which contains a great deal of information about Asian species.

Thankyou Leo, I shall seek further information on the Zelkova, I too have the feeling that the Maple may be too small for turnings, especially bowls.

Peter, There is also the Royal Empress Tree, also called Paulownia. A father would plant it when a daughter was born, and by the time she was of marrying age, the tree would be ready to harvest. It is also used as the sound board for a stringed instrument which I don't know the name of. At this time of year, they have large purple flowers on them. robo hippy

Hi Robo

Paulownia tomentosa, also called Royal Paulownia, Princess tree, Empress tree, is named for Anna Paulownia (1795-1865) of Russia, she became princess of The Netherlands and is the ancestor of the the present Queen Beatrix. The tree is a native of China, the wood is very soft and white, and the wood is exported to Japan for the making of special items like sandals and some furniture items. It is planted for ornamental reasons in the US , and also in Europe where I am familiar whit it, doesn't grow where it is to cold in the winter, none around up here in Ontario.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

robo hippy wrote:

There have been several attempts to grow this commercially in the US. I've heard of a project somewhere in Georgia, I think, and I've seen a small project in Southern Illinois. It grows incredibly fast -- more like a weed than a tree.

Bill

Leo Van Der Loo wrote:

Hi Bill

Yes a weed tree I would call it also, it is rather pretty though when flowering and would not mind one in my garden, if I could keep it in check, come to think off it maybe better in my neighbors garden .

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Bill Rubenste> There have been several attempts to grow this commercially in the US.

Japanese Dogwood, aka Kousa Dogwood, native to Japan, Korea and China).

Grows almost as fast as Kudzu?

The Paulownia tree project was started in my home county. I think it was mostly a scam, the people that sold the young seedlings to farmers charged big prices, and promised big returns. The mature trees were to be sold to pulp and paper companies, but the farmers say they are not able to find a market for the trees. I am only telling you what neighbors have told me. When the trees are harvested you do not have to replant them they will regrow from the existing roots of the cut tree. Sounds to good to be true, right? The wood is cream colored and has a hole in the center of the tree about the size of a fifty cent piece. One of the buyers is now a judge in the superior court, big headache for the sellers. Nashville, GA

Of course, we have poplar here, so that perpetual harvest is well looked after.

I fell prey to one of the back-to-the-land fads a number of years ago, receiving and planting some Jerusalem Artichokes in one part of my garden. When you speak of weeds, you're speaking of this. Tasty tubers, but any neglected piece carried elsewhere by the plow will sprout. I swear any piece of stem will, too.

I was in my third spring of eradication effort when I had a visit by the JW ladies. Fortunately I was not cursing at the time. I filled them each a large bag of overwintered root, extolling the beauty of the flower as well as the taste they had experienced.

They never came back....

A scam -- isn't that always the way. I saw some boards which had been kiln dried and the guy who dried it said that it dried quickly and without any defect problems. But it was soft, light in color, light weight and not at all distinguished in any way. Also, because of its quick growing characteristics, it could very easily crowd out native species. The comparison to kudsu is appropriate -- another failed botanical experiment.

Bill

Glenn wrote:

...

I also grow and have used Paulowinia, while the people in your area maybe having trouble finding a market, it does exist. The problem would be getting in touch with the right people. I know when I have bought the wood it was real spendy. A mature tree, cut for lumber, in Japan, sells for several thousand dollars.

I don't think I would use it for turning, because it is soo soft.

But, yes it will copse (sp, grow from the roots).

I use it for turning any chance I get. It's harder than pine, more like poplar, but otherwise much like it and looks somewhat like a light walnut. Easy to turn and comes out looking nice. Good present wood. Free is best, and when people chop them out of their yards, that's what they cost.

Dave in Fairfax

Peter, While posted to Northern Japan with the US Forces I turned a form of Japanese Cedar. Very soft. Hoever the most interesting thing I turned was something they called "Y-E-CON" I don't know the proper spelling. It is very close to the Mesquite I turn here in Texas. They use it for cross members on electric power lines. I was told because it does not rot. I was in an area with much snow and the holes drilled for mounting would fill with water and freeze. When the power co. would replace split timber because of freezing I would collect the discarded sections. It dulls tools quickly but turnes and finishes beautifully. It is redish brown in color. Hope this helps. Bob Edwards, San Antonio

Wakkanai?

I got some Japanese Sampora - that's the name I was told, anyway - from the garden of someone my son rides for. They cut it down, he got me a piece about 6" around & a couple of feet long. It was nice wood. Not terribly hard, nice grain with a fair amount of character. Sanded down very smooth. I'd say it was about as hard as Poplar, but it's been a year. I recall thinking it would be nice to have larger stock to build something out of.

On the Paulownia, there's some grown around here in Maryland, US. I've also heard it was a scam - read that somewhere on the Internet too - but one old guy that's local told me he raised & sold it successfully, so I think it must be tough to find a good buyer. He also said something about how it was cut & shipped - the buyers were very particular about something, can't recall what.

Jim

======================= George, I don't think anything grows faster than Kudzu, or covers more completely. Bamboo might come close.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX