Makin, Julie
Liriodendron tulipifera L.
Tulip tree, Tulip poplar, Yellow poplar
Magnoliaceae (Magnolia Family)
One of the tallest and most beautiful eastern hardwoods, with a long, straight trunk, a narrow crown that spreads with age, and large showy flowers resembling tulips or lilies. A tall, straight,
deciduous tree, up to150 ft. tall (sometimes taller), tuliptree has a medium to narrow crown and distinctive, star-shaped foliage. The leaves are waxy and smooth, and dependably turn bright gold in fall. Showy, yellow-orange, tulip-like flowers are often missed because they are up 50 ft. or higher in the tops of trees. Cone-shaped seedheads remain after leaves have fallen.
Introduced into Europe from Virginia by the earliest colonists and grown also on the Pacific Coast. Very tall trees with massive trunks existed in the primeval forests but were cut for the valuable soft wood. Pioneers hollowed out a single log to make a long, lightweight canoe. One of the chief commercial hardwoods, Yellow Poplar is used for furniture, as well as for crates, toys, musical instruments, and pulpwood.
Image Gallery:
21 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower:
Fruit: Green
Size Class: More than 100 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KY , LA , MD , MA , MI , MS , MO , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , DC
Canada: ON Native Distribution: W. VT to s. MI & s.e IL, s. to n. FL & LA
Native Habitat: Low, rich woods; stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Rich, moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Tulip
tree is insect and disease free. It is intolerant of compacted soil and should not be placed in confined beds or planters near pavement. It grows very rapidly in deep, rich well-drained soils with uniform rainfall. Dry summer weather causes physiological problems. Tulip
tree drops its foliage in response to drought and is somewhat weak-wooded.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: This is a favorite nesting
tree for birds and the flowers attract hummingbirds.
Use Medicinal: A pioneer species.
First Nations used the inner
bark medicinally as worming medicine, antiarthritic, cough syrup and cholera remedy. (Athenic)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Liriodendron tulipifera is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2012-10-13
