Liriodendron tulipifera – Tulip Tree

Botanical Name: Liriodendron tulipifera

Alternate Name: Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar

The Tulip Tree is a majestic and unique tree with unusual leaves and blooms. It has an upward and open growth habit and grows in a widely pyramidal or rounded shape. Liriodendron tulipifera is the tallest growing deciduous tree in North America, growing to a height of 60-90 feet with a spread of 30-50 feet. It is native to the eastern United States and so popular that it is the state tree of Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee!

The leaves of the Tulip Tree are an unusual shape. They are large – 4-8 inches across – with a blunt, flat end with a notch in it and four lobes. They are a glossy mid-green and turn golden yellow for a beautiful fall display.

After the leaves have grown in, sometime in May or June, the flowers of the Tulip Tree develop. They are bright yellow with an orange stripe at the base of each petal. They can grow to 2 inches in size and can sometimes be hidden by the leaves. The Tulip Tree is in the Magnolia family, and its flowers bear some resemblance to Cup and Saucer Magnolia flowers that stand upright on the branches.

The fruit that follow the flowers are oblong and cone-shaped with scales. Each fruit bears many winged seeds.

The Tulip Tree is rabbit and deer resistant. It is fast growing, which can mean weaker wood that is susceptible to breakage during wind and ice storms.