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.
