With its large blue flower spikes, the bluebell tree (bot. Paulownia) is truly impressive. Unfortunately, a young tree is not exactly cheap in stores, but with a little patience you can grow it yourself from seeds.
How do I grow a bluebell tree from seeds?
The bluebell tree (Paulownia) can be grown from seeds: Buy/harvest and dry seeds in February, sow thinly in peat or sand-soil mixture, always keep moist, place in a warm and bright location, optionally in a growing pot cover with foil. After a few days the seeds will germinate and can be transplanted.
If you would rather grow a bluebell tree from cuttings, then cut off a he althy shoot about 20 centimeters long in the fall. In moist substrate it will form roots over the winter.
Where do I get the seeds of a bluebell tree?
Although there are different types of Paulownia, you will mainly find the seeds of the Paulownia tomentosa species in stores. There are now also some hybrids that are better adapted to the prevailing climate here and/or no longer self-seed and can therefore grow uncontrollably.
If you have a bluebell tree in your own garden or nearby, you can use its seeds for sowing, provided it is not one of the hybrids just mentioned. However, make sure that the seeds are ripe. You can see this by the capsule bursting open. The seeds also germinate automatically in suitable locations.
Growing instructions coming soon:
- Buy or collect and dry seeds
- ideal sowing time: February
- Substrate: Peat (€379.00 at Amazon) or sand-soil mixture
- sow thinly
- Keep seeds moist
- Location: warm and bright
- Cover the cultivation pot with foil if necessary
How do I care for the seedlings?
Your seeds will begin to germinate after just a few days. When they are around five centimeters in size, they can be pricked out. Now they no longer need to be protected with foil, but they cannot yet tolerate the cold. Continue to keep the substrate moist, but definitely avoid waterlogging. This would quickly cause the tender roots to rot.
If your bluebell tree has become a strong plant in spring, then place it on the balcony or in the garden during the day. Make sure you choose a slightly shady spot and protect the tree from the intense midday heat. After the Ice Saints, your bluebell tree can spend the summer outdoors, but it is not yet really hardy.
Tip
If you have little time and/or patience, you can also grow a bluebell tree from a cutting.
