Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Magnoliaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None specified (Standard species)
Hardiness Zones
4 to 9
About This Tree
A exceptionally tall, straight-trunked tree with a pyramidal crown when young, becoming oval-rounded with age. Known for its rapid growth and tulip-shaped greenish-yellow flowers.
Leaf Characteristics
Distinctive four-lobed leaf with a flat base and notched tip, resembling a silhouette of a tulip; bright green in summer, turning vivid golden-yellow in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Light gray-green and smooth when young, developing deep, diamond-shaped furrows and thick ridges with age; very straight and columnar.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America, adapted to moist, well-drained soils in USDA zones 4-9.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers late spring to early summer (May-June); seeds ripen in fall; dormant in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun is required for best growth; prefers deep, moist, well-drained loamy soil; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
70-150 feet tall with a 30-50 foot spread; fast growth rate frequently exceeding 2 feet per year.
Special Characteristics
Valuable timber tree (yellow poplar); spectacular yellow fall color; unique cup-shaped flowers; sensitive to extreme drought and salt.
Wildlife & Ecology
Host plant for Tiger Swallowtail butterflies; flowers provide abundant nectar for honeybees and hummingbirds; seeds are eaten by squirrels and songbirds.