Liriodendron tulipifera
(Tulip Tree)
Common Names, Latin Name and Family
Common names are tulip tree, tuliptree, tulip magnolia, and yellow poplar.
Its Latin name is Liriodendron tulipifera.
Tulip tree is found in the Magnoliaceae, magnolia, family.
Form
The tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is a native deciduous tree.
It is a stately, straight trunked, tree attaining a height of 75 to 100 feet.
Leaves
Tulip tree leaves have a very distinctive squarish shape.
The leaves are large, and reach a length of 4-8 inches.
They are alternate, truncated at the apex and base, with four to six pointed lobes.
In the fall the foliage turns a yellow-golden color.
Flowers
The large 2 inch blooms are tulip shaped, yellow-green in color, and have orange centers.
They appear in late spring and early summer, and may be difficult to see because they seem to bloom at the upper most portion of the tree.
Fruit
The fruit appears in a 3 inch cone in the fall.
Habitat
Tulip tree is found naturally occurring in hammocks, bluffs, stream banks and swamps.
Native Range
In Florida tulip tree is found naturally occurring mostly in the panhandle, but is also found in numerous counties south to Pasco County.
Tulip tree is native to eastern North America, with its range extending from Canada in the north, south to central Florida, and from the Atlantic coast west to Illinois and Michigan.
Landscape Use
In the home landscape tulip tree provides a beautiful vertical accent, and golden fall color.
Although it is found in moist soils in its native habitat it will tolerate drier conditions if the soil is amended with organic matter and almost constant moisture is attained.
When distressed, by lack of moisture, nutrients, or compacted soil, its leaves will turn yellow and drop.
Wildlife Use
The flowers and buds may be eaten by wildlife such as flying squirrels and gray squirrels.
Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies use the flowers as a nectar source.
The seeds within the cone are eaten by birds and squirrels.
Tulip tree is a larval host for the tiger and spicebush swallowtail butterflies.
Propagation
Propagation may be achieved by stratified seed or cuttings. Seed propagation produces an extremely low percentage of germination, therefore it is considered difficult to propagate by seed.
Propagation by softwood cuttings and root cuttings will produce better results.
Many native plant nurseries in our area carry tulip tree.