Liriodendron chinense seed
LATIN NAME: LIRIODENDRON CHINENSE
COMMON NAME: Chinese Tulip Tree
In the mountain woods of the east, the Chinese tulip tree grows as a tall, deciduous tree with the distinctive, four-lobed, saddle-shaped leaves and the large, tulip-like, greenish-yellow flowers with the orange bands, opening in the early summer, the long, cone-like fruit clusters holding the winged seeds. Over the seasons it steadily builds a rounded crown, standing 5-10 metres at maturity. Full sun is ideal, in deep, fertile ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Chinese tulip tree appears in the studies of the magnolia family of the east, its saddle-shaped leaves and its tulip flowers keeping it in view in the work on the relict trees of the mountain woods and the ornamental trees of the large garden. The research looks at the way the saddle leaves turn gold in the autumn, the tulip flowers open in the early summer, and the seed biology of the winged, often empty seeds.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
In the large garden and the park, the Chinese tulip tree carries the distinctive, saddle-shaped leaves and the large, tulip-like flowers that make it one of the great specimen trees of the temperate world. The autumn leaves turn a clear gold, and the tree makes the fine specimen tree, the park tree and the tree of the open, spacious garden. It is a tree for the open, sunny, deep and fertile place.
To grow the Chinese Tulip Tree from seed, give the winged seeds a cold, moist spell, then sow them on gritty soil.
Give the winged seeds a cold, moist spell, then sow them on gritty soil, and keep the young tulip trees in the open, sunny spot. The saddle leaves turn gold with the autumn.
LATIN NAME: Liriodendron chinense
COMMON NAME: Chinese Tulip Tree, Chinese Tulip Poplar
The Chinese tulip tree is a noble and ancient tree of the central Chinese mountains, and its tulip-shaped flowers are a great summer delight. It slowly becomes a compact, rounded bush, reaching three to four metres. It is a native of central and southern China, growing in the provinces of Anhui, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Sichuan and Yunnan, and also locally in northern Vietnam, and it is one of only two species of the genus Liriodendron in the world, the other being the American tulip tree.
The Chinese tulip tree is Asias native species in the genus Liriodendron, which belongs to the magnolia family, Magnoliaceae. It is a native of central and southern China, growing in many provinces and also locally in northern Vietnam, and it is closely related to the American tulip tree.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Chinese tulip tree has a genuine and distinguished place in both botanical and conservation research. It is one of only two species of the ancient genus Liriodendron, the other being the American tulip tree, and as such it is of great interest in plant science, and researchers have examined its relationships with the American species, the history of the genus and its place in the magnolia family, which has made it a subject of interest in the study of plant evolution and biogeography. The tree has also been studied in conservation biology, since its protected populations in the wild have been studied, and researchers have examined its distribution, its status and the efforts to conserve it, making it a focus of tree conservation in China. The species has also been studied in forestry and horticulture, since it is a valuable timber tree and a beautiful ornamental, prized for its tulip-shaped flowers and its distinctive leaves. For a tree of such ancient lineage, the Chinese tulip tree has a rich and distinguished record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Chinese tulip tree is a noble tree of the mountain forest. Its tulip-shaped flowers feed bees and other pollinators, its seeds feed birds and small mammals, and its broad, leafy crown gives shade and shelter, while it is an ancient and precious member of the central Chinese forests.
Its economic value is real. It is a valuable timber tree of the region, used for construction and other work, and it is a beautiful ornamental, prized for its tulip-shaped flowers and its distinctive, clipped-looking leaves, while it is also of great conservation value as one of only two species of its ancient genus. For a grower, the Chinese tulip tree is a valuable and noble tree, and for a gardener it brings tulip-shaped flowers and ancient lineage to a large garden. The seeds are easy — sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost in spring, keep them lightly covered and gently watered, and theyll sprout within a few weeks, growing on steadily into a noble young tree.
Chinese tulip tree is a fast-growing, columnar tree that typically grows to 50-70’ tall. It is named for its cup-shaped, tulip-like flowers (same family as magnolias) that bloom in late spring to early summer. Cup-shaped flowers (to 1.5” long) are olive green with yellow at the base. Flowers begin blooming in May. Flowers are followed by dry, scaly, oblong, cone-shaped, brown fruit clusters, each bearing numerous winged seeds. Clusters disintegrate when ripe. Lobed bright green leaves turn golden yellow in fall. Genus name comes from Greek leirion (lily) and dendron (tree). Stratify the seeds. Wrap the seeds in moist paper towels, and place the packets of seeds into small plastic bags. Place the bags into the refrigerator for eight to twelve weeks. Check on them weekly once you reach the initial eight week period, and remove any seeds that have sprouted. Tulip poplars have very long taproots, and require containers that are very deep. Fill the containers with nutrient rich potting soil. Plant the seeds. Dig out small depressions no more than a half an inch deep and insert one seed per hole. Water them in well, but do not allow the soil to become boggy. Place the container in a sunny location. Seedlings can be moved once they grow a set of true leaves.