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Tulip tree

Jo Hidalgo
PictureFigure 1: Tulip tree





​
Family: Magnoliaceae

Genus: Liriodendron

Species: tulipifera

Common names: Tulip tree, canary whitewood, canoewood, lyre tree, North American whitewood,  saddle tree, tulip poplar, and western poplar


Growth Sites

PictureFigure 2: Hardiness zones the tulip tree can grow in
The tulip tree originated in Eastern North America, but is highly adaptable to various climates. As in figure one shows, the tulip tree is hardy to zones 4-9.

​However, regardless of temperature, the tree does best in moist, well-drained soil; the soil should also be loamy and organically-rich. The tulip tree prefers full sun.


General Information

Picture
Height: 60-90 feet, but can be up to 200

Girth: 4-6 feet, but can be up to 10

Canopy Spread: 30-50 feet

Life expectancy: Can live up to 300 years in ideal conditions, but some have been reported to live as long as 500 years. In urban areas, the life expectancy is shortened to 100-200 years.

Wood: ​Diffuse porous
Picture

Flowers




The tulip tree has perfect flowers, meaning both reproductive organs are not only on the same tree, but also on the individual flower. The tree is also self-pollinating, and it flowers from May to June.
PictureFigure 3: Life cycle of a tulip tree flower

​The fruit of the tree are dry, scaly, oblong, cone-shaped, and brown. They contain samaras. Samaras are the winged seeds inside the fruit. The tulip tree is propagated by both cuttings and seeds.  Some trees have mast years, which are gap years between fruit production; the tulip tree produces fruit every year, so it has no mast years.


Usage



The wood of tulip trees is commonly used for construction grade lumber and plywood. It is used for cabinets, veneer, pulp, and furniture, as well as kindling. The tree itself is used in parks and yards, but it does poorly as a street tree. It's most common usage is a shade tree or a flowering tree. It has a gorgeous yellow color in the fall.

​
In the past, tulip trees were used by Native Americans to create dugout canoes. Now, it is the state tree of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Picture
Figure 4: Tulip tree in the fall

Maintenance

Tulip trees are usually planted as nursery seedlings, planted in the early spring after one year of growth. There aren't any special pruning requirements, except when the tree is being used for lumber. When grown for lumber, moderate thinning every 8-10 years is recommended. Otherwise, prune when necessary or when preferred.

Tulip trees don't have any significant pests or diseases. Watch out for aphids and scale, as well as Verticillium wilt. Other than those things, the tree is rather hardy. It is, however, sensitive to wind and ice.

It tolerates a soil pH anywhere from 4.5-7.5.  

References

  1. “How to Grow: Tulip Trees- Growing Adn Caring for Tulip Trees.” Gardening with Charlie, 21 Nov. 2017, gardeningwithcharlie.com/grow-care-for-tulip-trees.html.
  2. “Liriodendron Tulipfera (Tulip Tree, Yellow Poplar).” A Fascinating Green World, 28 Sept. 2014, austinbotany.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/liriodendron-tulipfera-tulip-tree-yellow-poplar/.
  3. “Liriodendron Tulipifera L. Tuliptree.” Plants Profile for Liriodendron Tulipifera (Tuliptree), plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=litu.
  4. “Liriodendron Tulipifera.” Liriodendron Tulipifera - Plant Finder, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a878.
  5. “Liriodendron Tulipifera.” Liriodendron Tulipifera, www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/lirtul/all.html.
  6. “TuliptreeLiriodendron Tulipifera.” Tuliptree Tree on the Tree Guide at Arborday.org, www.arborday.org/Trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=930.

Image Sources

  1. https://picryl.com/media/blooming-tulip-poplar-liriodendron-tulipifera-on-rock-creek
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron_tulipifera#/media/File:Liriodendron_tulipifera_(arbre)_-_Laeken.JPG
  3. http://www.rackleytechnologies.com/memorial.nsf/imagenum3/8NNNHQ
  4. https://www.cutout-trees.com/
  5. https://www.cutout-trees.com/
  6. http://polimgo.pw/tulip-tree-fruit.html
  7. https://www.newlands.ie/liriodendron-tulipifera-aureomarginatum-5390896026280/63647/
  8. https://www.habitataid.co.uk/liriodendron-tulipifera-tulip-tree
  9. http://www.borobudurshipexpedition.com/flowering-tulip-tree/
  10. https://www.ncwildflower.org/plant_galleries/details/liriodendron-tulipifera
  11. https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/liriodendron-tulipifera
  12. https://www.primrose.co.uk/5ft-tulip-tree-pot-liriodendron-tulipifera-p-68467.html
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  • Home
  • Projects 2019
    • Arbor Day Project 2019 >
      • Gravel Bed Trees >
        • Blue Beech
        • Bur Oak
        • Dawn Redwood
        • EXCLAMATION! London Planetree
        • Ginkgo 'Autumn Gold'
        • Honey Locust
        • Showy Mountian Ash
        • London Planetree 'Bloodgood'
        • Pagoda Dogwood
        • River Birch
        • Paper Birch
        • Turkish Hazel
        • White Willow
        • Tulip Tree
        • Yellowwood
        • Toba Hawthorn
        • White Oak
        • Ohio Buckeye
    • Limited Visual Assessment - St. Paul Campus
  • Projects 2018
    • Canadian Hemlock
    • Trumpet Honeysuckle
    • Summersweet
    • Wisteria
    • Common Caragana
    • Climbing Hydrangea
    • Canada Yew
    • Shingle Oak
    • Trumpet Vine
    • Grey Dogwood
    • Serbian Spruce
    • Osage Orange
    • Early Forsythia
    • Amur Corktree
    • Paper birch
    • Hardy Rubber Tree
    • Lodgepole Pine
    • Mongolian Linden
    • Eastern Red Cedar
    • Carolina Allspice
    • Norway Maple
    • Black Haw
    • Manchurian Alder
  • Projects 2017
    • Balsam Fir
    • Virginia Creeper
    • Red Twig Dogwood
    • Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
    • American Bittersweet
    • Riverbank Grape
    • Climbing Hydrangea
    • Eastern Wahoo
    • Golden Raintree
    • Bald Cypress
    • Musclewood
    • Ninebark
    • Fothergilla
    • Ohio Buckeye
    • Hop Vine
    • Hardy Kiwi
  • Projects 2016
    • Tree Species Information >
      • Honey-locust
      • Northern white cedar
      • Black locust
      • American mountain-ash
      • eastern white pine
      • Japanese tree lilac
      • Silver maple
      • Kentucky coffee-tree
    • Site Selection or Design >
      • Sonora N.
      • Grace K.
      • Al R.
      • John R.
    • Diseases >
      • Melissa L.
      • Aaryn W.
      • Monica R.
    • Pests >
      • Trevor K. >
        • Boxelder
        • Emerald Ash Borer
        • Two Lined Chestnut Borer
        • Dogday Cicada
        • Bronze Birch Borer
        • Asian Long-Horned Beetle
      • Alissa C. >
        • Bronze Birch Borers
        • Boxelders
        • Two lined Chestnut Borers
        • Emerald Ash Borers
        • Asian Longhorned Beetles
        • Dogday Cicadas
    • Planting >
      • Daniel Y.
      • Adam K.
    • Pruning >
      • Jorden S.
      • Miles A.
      • Samantha N.