Liriodendron tulipifera

The Tulip Poplar is native to eastern North America.  It can grow to more than 50 m (160 ft) in virgin cove forests of the Appalachian Mountains, often with no limbs until it reaches 25–30 m (80–100 ft) in height.

April marks the start of the flowering period in our neck of the woods.

Native Americans so habitually made their dugout canoes of its trunk that the early settlers west of the Appalachian Mountains called it Canoewood. The color of its wood gives it the name Whitewood. In areas near the Mississippi River it is called a poplar largely because of the fluttering habits of its leaves, in which it resembles trees of that genus. It is sometimes called “fiddle tree,” because its peculiar leaves, with their arched bases and in-cut sides, suggest the violin shape.

It is recommended as a shade tree.  The tree’s tall and rapid growth is a function of its shade intolerance. Grown in the full sun, the species tends to grow shorter, slower, and rounder, making it adaptable to landscape planting.

In forest settings, most investment is made in the trunk and lower branches are lost early as new, higher branches closer to the sun continue the growth spurt upward. A tree just 15 years old may already reach 40 ft in height with no branches within reach of humans standing on the ground.

The nectar from Tulip Poplar flowers are a primary food source for migratory warblers in the spring.  Rose breasted grosbeak’s will eat Tulip Poplar blooms.  Tulip Poplars are important also because they support 19 species of native butterflies including the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, the Tulpitree Silkmoth and the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly. [5]

In Peachtree Park there are quite a few Tulip Poplars, some of them very old, tall and magnificent.  If fact, one is an Atlanta champion tree as noted in the list below,  You can read more about this champion tree in our post from August 2016, A True Champion.

Identification and Description

The bark is brown, and furrowed.  New branches are smooth, and lustrous, initially reddish, maturing to dark gray, and finally brown. Showy, yellow-orange, tulip-like flowers are often missed because they are up 50 ft. or higher in the tops of trees. [6]

Aromatic and bitter, the wood is light yellow to brown, and the sapwood creamy white; light, soft, brittle, close, straight-grained.

Adapted to Georgia hardiness zones: 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Atlanta is zone 7b  [1]

Supported Wildlife and Other Uses

The nectar from Tulip Poplar flowers are a primary food source for migratory warblers in the spring.  Rose breasted grosbeak’s will eat Tulip Poplar blooms.  Tulip Poplars are important also because they support 19 species of native butterflies including the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly. [5] [6]

Champion Tulip Poplar Trees in Atlanta and Georgia

Atlanta Champion Trees – full list
Georgia Champion Trees – full list
Intown Hawk – Condensed Atlanta and Georgia List

References and Additional Information

[1] UGA Extension: Native Plants for Georgia Part I: Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines (B 987) – Tulip Poplar
[2]  Wikipedia:  Liriodendron tulipifera
[3]  University of Kentucky:  Tulip Poplar
[4]  Pennsylvania State University:  Yellow Poplar
[5]  Doug Tallamy: BringingNatureHome.net/what-to-plant.html
[6]  Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Liriodendron tulipifera
[7]  Missouri Botanical Garden: Liriodendron tulipifera