Pores in rings gradually diminish in size outwards and the place where the ring starts usually does not form a clear early wood strip. The rays are not clearly visible to naked eye but can be apparent with a hand lens or under microscope. The wood is straight grained, with gloss after being planed, light, soft and odourless. In cross section pores are round or elliptic. The vessels are mostly solitary, sometimes whorled or occur in short linear multiples.
Perforation is simple.
Wood fibre cells are even in size in annual rings more in early wood rather in late wood. Bordered pits are common. Weight and quality Lightness is a major advantage of Paulownia wood. The density varies with different species and site conditions but all of them produce exceptionally light wood. P. fargesii and P. elongate are the lightest.