This native tree charms with tulip-shaped spring flowers and golden fall foliage.
The flowers develop into fruiting structures, which birds and squirrels enjoy eating.
Keep in mind that this plant will not flower until maturity, at about 15 years.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Flowers typically concentrate at the top parts of the tree, often hidden among the leaves.
Like other fast-growing trees, the wood is rather weak and prone to breakage, especially in stormy weather.
Avoid planting the tree in areas exposed to strong winds.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Either plant a tulip tree as a specimen or clustered in a group if you have the space.
Tulip trees make good overstory trees for native shrubs that thrive in partial shade.
Backfill with the original soil and water well.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
During the first growing season, keep the young tree well-watered in the absence of rain.
Space trees 35 to 40 feet apart.
Soil and Water
The soil should be deep, moist, and well-drained soil.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It is adaptable to a pH range between 4.5 to 7.5 but does better inslightly acidic soil below 6.8.
Due to their shallow root system, tulip poplars don’t tolerate drought.
During dry periods, the foliage tends to turn yellow and drop prematurely.
In extended periods of dry weather, water the root zone slowly and deeply every couple of weeks.
They thrive in a temperate climate with regular rainfalls and struggle in extreme heat, humidity, and aridity.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing a tulip tree is generally not requiredthe tree will grow just fine without it.
In nutrient-poor soils, apply a fertilizer for flowering trees and shrubs once a year in the spring.
The tree naturally grows a column-like trunk without lower branches.
Pests and Problems
Serious pests and diseases on the tulip tree are not common.
The yellow poplar weevil and scale insects are other potential pests.
Possible diseases include cankers.
How to Propagate a Tulip Tree
Tulip trees arepropagated from semi-hardwood cuttingsof healthy trees or from seeds.
Because only about half of the cuttings will root, cut several stems.
Put two or three together in the same pot.
The tree has a narrow, columnar shape with a flat top.
It grows up to 60 feet high and 20 feet wide.
Little Volunteer
This smaller variety has a rounded, pyramidal habit and attractive butter-yellow fall foliage.
The fall foliage is butter yellow.
Emerald City
Liriodendron tulipifera’JFS-Oz' has a straighter and more upright growth habit than the species.
It has a dominant central leader and deep-green, slightly glossy foliage.
It grows up to feet in height with a spread of 22 feet.
This native tree grows up to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
Its fall fruits attract migrating songbirds.
It is native to North America and grows in sun or shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soil.
Its moderate sizeup to 10 feet tall and widemakes it an excellent understory shrub.
It is the most attractive in the fall when it blooms yellow and develops brilliant golden fall foliage.
The shrub grows 12 feet tall and wide.
In the wild, tulip trees can get up to 300 years old.
In a manmade landscape, their lifespan is shorter, 100 to 200 years on average.
