tuliptree
Family
MagnoliaceaeScientific Name
Liriodendron tulipiferaOther Common Names:
tulip magnolia
tulip tree
whitewood
yellow-poplar
Identifying Characteristics
Tulip poplar actually is not a poplar, but a member of
the magnolia family. The leaves are tulip-shaped,
alternate, and simple. The leaf is smooth on both
surfaces, dark green and lustrous above, pale and
often with a slight whitish bloom beneath.Twigs are moderately stout, olive-brown, to reddish
brown, very smooth and usually lustrous; the large
terminal bud has two large duck-bill shaped scales.The bark on younger trunks and branches is quite
smooth, light ashy-gray with very shallow,
longitudinal, whitish furrows. With age the bark
becomes very thick, having deep interlacing furrows
and rather narrow rounded ridges.
This tree is rapid growing, attaining heights of 80-
120 feet and a trunk diameter of 2 to 5 feet. Young
trees have a pyramidal form.
Flower Seed Head
Tulip poplar produces tulip-shaped, light greenishyellow
flowers from April to June. It is a prolific
seed bearer but has a low percent germination. The
cone shaped fruit clusters usually persist on branches.
There are about 12,000 seeds per pound.
Where Found
Tulip poplar is exacting in soil and moisture
requirements. It does best on moderately moist,
deep, well drained, loose textured soils; it rarely
grows well in very dry or very wet situations. It will
tolerate a pH of 4.5 to 7.5.
Tulip poplar is distributed throughout the east and
southeast portions of the United States.
Life Cycle
perennial
Plant Type
Tree