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Liriodendron tulipifera

This plant is not currently for sale.  This is an archive page preserved for informational use.  

Tulip Poplar is a superbly shaped deciduous canopy tree, one of the tallest of the eastern hardwoods. Individuals have reached 190 feet in height, but the average Tulip Poplar is only on the order of 100-110 feet. Poplar prefers deep, rich, moist soil. naturally occurring near river banks and along sloped hills throughout eastern North America. It is a shade-intolerant species that is most commonly associated with the first century of forest succession. In full sun, it grows straight up, rather rapidly, shedding lower branches in favor of higher ones, which makes for high value timber. It is one of the few canopy trees with petalous flowers. Often unnoticed until they begin to fall to the earth, they are tulip-shaped, yellowish-green with orange centers. The uniquely shaped (catface) leaves turn a beautiful golden in fall. Most tulip trees have low tolerance for either drought or very wet conditions (although there are a couple of ecotypes– a southeastern coastal plain ecotype and an east central Florida ecotype — which occur in wetter soils with high organic matter). Because of its fast growth, gorgeous fall foliage and splendid form, and its high value as a nectar source, Poplar is a great choice for a shade tree.

Key Info

Scientific Name: Liriodendron tulipifera L.
Common Names: Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar, Tulip Tree American Tulip Tree, Whitewood, Fiddletree
Family Names:
Plant Type:
Moisture Requirement: ,
Leaf Retention:
Bloom Times: , ,
Flower Color: Green/orange

Additional Info

Habit: Open-grown trees have a pyramidal crown when young, becoming oval in shape with time. Trunk is tall and straight. The roots are fleshy and easily broken if handled roughly.
Height: up to 150'
Spread: 30' to 50'
Soil Conditions: Grows best in deep, moderately moist, well-drained, loose textured soils; pH acid to circumneutral; it rarely grows well in very dry or very wet situations.
Leaves: Leaves are alternate, simple, entire, palmately veined, up to 8 inches long and wide and uniquely shaped ("catface"). They have four lobes, but basically are squarish with a notched to flat top; are bright green, smooth and shining above, paler green beneath, with downy veins. In autumn they turn a clear, bright yellow.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: The showy flowers are greenish yellow, erect, cup-shaped, tulip-like, with an orange band on the tepals, 2 1/2 inches long, fleshy in texture, developing after the tree has leafed out (late spring, early summer). They are perfect, solitary, terminal, borne on stout peduncles an inch and a half to two inches long. They produce large quantities of nectar. .
Fruit: The fruit is a dry 'helicopter' cluster of samaras 2 - 3 inches long, deciduous at maturity (fall/winter). Each samara has a single wing 1 1/2 inches long, curving at the seed; spread by wind. Fruit cones remain on the tree throughout the winter.
Natural Distribution: Rich, moist woods, stream banks.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: FACU
Pollination: Bees, butterflies, other insects; hummingbirds
Wildlife Connections: Birds and squirrels make their nests in the branches; flowers attract ruby-throated hummingbirds for the copious amounts of nectar produced by the flowers. Northern bobwhites, purple finches, cottontails, red squirrels, gray squirrels, and white-footed mice consume the samaras. Leaves are a larval host for the Tuliptree Silkmoth, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, and the Promethea Silkmoth. White-tailed deer and livestock browse yellow-poplar heavily, preferring it to other species.
Propagation: From seed.