Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Magnoliaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None (Straight Species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 9; highly adaptable to the temperate climate of Culpeper, Virginia.
About This Tree
A very large, straight-trunked tree with a pyramidal crown that becomes more oval with age. It is known for its distinctive tulip-shaped flowers and high-climbing branches.
Leaf Characteristics
Distinctive four-lobed shape with a broad, notched apex (resembling a tulip silhouette). Leaves are bright green, simple, alternate, and turn a vibrant golden-yellow in the fall.
Bark Characteristics
Light gray and smooth on young trees, developing into deep, interlacing furrows and flat-topped ridges with age, resembling wood-grained texture.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern North America, including Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers in May to June; undergoes dormancy in late autumn after turning bright yellow
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best growth; prefers deep, moist, well-drained loamy soils but is moderately drought tolerant once established.
Mature Size
Mature height of 70-150 feet with a spread of 30-50 feet. It is one of the fastest-growing eastern hardwoods.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for timber (yellow poplar); spectacular yellow fall foliage; known for producing tulip-like green and orange flowers high in the canopy.
Wildlife & Ecology
Major nectar source for honeybees and hummingbirds; host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly; seeds provide food for squirrels and birds.
Notes
Culpeper, Va