Hybrid Paulownia in Short Rotation: 5-Year Yield Data from German Pilot Plantations

Hybrid Paulownia in Short Rotation: 5-Year Yield Data from German Pilot Plantations By Dirk Roethig | CEO, VERDANTIS Impact Capital | March 10, 2026 Theory is one thing. Practice is another. Dirk Roethig analyzes real yield data from German Paulownia pilot plantations over five management years — with sterilized hybrids, documented biomass performance, and measurable CO2 sequestration. A data-driven report on what Paulownia actually delivers in Central Europe. Why Yield Data from Germany Are Decisive Paulownia originates in East Asia. The research data on growth performance and biomass yields come predominantly from China, Turkey, Southern Europe, and Southeast Asia — regions with longer growing seasons, higher average temperatures, and different precipitation patterns than Central Europe. Dirk Roethig is familiar with the skepticism that arises among German farmers and investors when Paulownia's performance is discussed: "Everyone knows that a tree grows differently in Spain than alon