Tulip Tree

The Tulip Tree(Liriodendron tulipifera) belongs to Magnoliaceae family and is known as The King of the Magnolias. It is also referred to as Tulip poplar, Tulipwood, Whitewood, American Whitewood, Canary Whitewood, White poplar, Yellow poplar, Hickory poplar, Saddletree and Canoewood. It is actually not a poplar and is not a relative to the true Populus species. Its closest relative is instead the Chinese Tulip Tree (Liriodendron Chinese).

The name Tulip Tree is probably derived from the tulip-like flowers that grow high up in these trees. The flowers are monoecious and around 2.5 inches long. The petals are yellow-green while the corolla has a vivid orange shade. The Tulip Tree blooms from late spring to early summer. In most parts of North America, this means May and June. With a little imagination, the leaves of the Tulip Tree also resemble tulips. They have four lobes and notch at the tip, which make it look almost as if the tip has been cut of. The leaves grow up to 4-6 inches in diameter and are bright green. In fall, they will turn yellow.

The fruits of a Tulip Tree are green at first and will turn more and more light brown as they turn ripe. They are fully grown in autumn and look like small cones. The average size is 2.5-3 inches. Twigs from a Tulip Tree are green during the warm season, sometimes with a hint of purple. During the colder months they will turn red and brown, and typically look very smooth and shiny. The bark of young Tulip Trees is green and even and will frequently display pale vertical lines. In older Tulip Trees, the bark will be more grey and wrinkled.

The Tulip Tree is the tallest of the hardwoods and grows very fast. It likes to intermingle with other broadleaf trees and is found in a large part of North America; from the Great Lakes in the north and all the way down to Florida in the south. In a forest, the Tulip Tree will grow a long limb-free bole that frequently becomes higher than 100 feet. A Tulip Tree growing in the open will instead form a pyramid shaped crown during its youth. Eventually, this pyramid will become egg-shaped as the tree ages. A Tulip Tree can be up to 150 years old.

The Tulip Tree is popular as timber tree, ornamental tree and shade tree. It is a well-liked tree since it adaptable, grows very fast and is very resilient towards pests and tree diseases. It can reach a height of 50 feet within 11 years. The wood from a Tulip Tree is slightly yellow and is appreciated by carpenters since it is very easy to work with. Many Native Americans used Tulip Tree for their canoes. Today, wood from the Tulip Tree is especially popular in veneer. It can also be found in wooden sculptures, wood carvings, musical instruments, cabinetry, furniture and small decorative items like jewellery boxes. Its bark has been used to extract a substitute for cinchona, a naturally occurring compound used as medication.
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Animals also appreciate the rich Tulip Tree. Bees gather nectar from the flowers. The seeds are consumed by birds, squirrels, rabbits and rodents. Young Tulip Trees are browsed by the Whitetail deer.

Tulip Trees should ideally grow in rich, nutritious and moist soil. Since it loves damp soil it is often found in marshlands and near rivers and streams. It will never do well in dry and acid soils. It is also intolerant when it comes to shade, but since it such a high and fast growing tree this is usually not a problem.

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