Liriodendron tulipifera
Object Details
- Description
- The tulip poplar is a beautiful tree. With both uniquely tulip-shaped leaves and tulip-like flowers, the tree’s common name is no surprise. Those passingly familiar with tulip trees may be surprised to learn about its flowers. Light yellow and cup-shaped, with a vibrant orange band towards the base, these showy flowers are often hidden behind the tree’s large foliage. So next time you are near a tulip tree in the summer, don’t forget to look out for its flowers.
- Hardiness
- -30 - 30 F
- Attracts
- Root-collar borer moth, tulip tree moth, promethea moth, tulip tree beauty, tiger swallowtail; cardinal, goldfinch, Carolina chickadee, purple finch, yellow-bellied sapsucker, ruby-throated hummingbird, pileated woodpecker; fox squirrel, gray squirrel, red squirrel, white-footed mouse, woodland deer mouse; white-tailed deer
- Bloom Time
- April to June
- Pollination Syndrome
- Beetles, bumblebees, honeybees, other long-tongued bees, flies, ruby-throated hummingbird
- Provenance
- Uncertain
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2011-1474A
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Life Form
- Deciduous tree
- Average Height
- 60-90'
- Bark Characteristics
- Young: smooth, light gray, with shallow furrows Mature: thick, gray, with deep furrows
- Bloom Characteristics
- Tulip-shaped. 2" long.
- Fall Color
- Yellow
- Foliage Characteristics
- Alternate, simple, four-lobed, tulip-shaped leaves. 8" wide.
- Fragrance
- Flower smells slightly of cucumber.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Cone-like structure made up of many samaras on a central stalk. Seeds mainly disperse from October to November, but some continue to fall as late as March.
- Structure
- Oval
- Range
- S Ontario to NC and E USA
- Habitat
- Rich forests, on north and east aspects, lower slopes, sheltered coves, and concave slopes; 0-1500
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Common Name
- Tulip Poplar
- Tulip Tree
- Tulip Magnolia
- Canoewood
- Lyre Tree
- Saddle Tree
- Whitewood
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Magnolianae
- Order
- Magnoliales
- Family
- Magnoliaceae
- Genus
- Liriodendron
- Species
- tulipifera
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2011-1474A
