Liriodendron tulipifera Seeds | Tulip Tree
LATIN NAME: Liriodendron tulipifera
COMMON NAME: Tulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar
Plant Profile
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) grows as a tree in the magnolia family. Tulip tree is one of grandest and most beautiful trees of the American forest. It grows tall and straight, reaching thirty metres or more, with a broad, open crown of distinctive four-lobed leaves that look as though tip has been cut off, and they turn a clear golden-yellow in autumn. In early summer tree carries its famous flowers: large, tulip-shaped blooms in green, orange and cream, like a flower from a dream, held high among the leaves. At maturity it stands about Thirty metres. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Liriodendron tulipifera sits in the Magnolia family, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Tulip tree has a distinguished record in both botany and forestry. The upshot for anyone sowing it is reassurance — cultivated stock of this plant has a long, well-documented track record.
Uses & Benefits
Tulip Tree works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Ecologically, tulip tree is a treasure. Its large flowers feed bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators, its seeds feed birds and small mammals, and its towering canopy provides food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife. Wood is prized for furniture, cabinetry, veneer and construction, being light, straight-grained and easy to work, and tree is one of the most important hardwoods of the eastern United States. Given the right start, it carries on with minimal intervention.
Tulip tree is a magnificent nectar tree for honey, and its inner bark was the tulip-poplar tonic bark of early American folk medicine; today it is prized as fast, stately shade.
Growing from Seed
Raising Tulip Tree from seed is straightforward. Growing a tulip tree from seed takes patience, but it is a deeply rewarding project. In spring, bring pots to a bright spot and keep them moist. Scatter the seed evenly over a loose seed compost, cover to no more than its own depth, and keep the pot moist and bright. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Tulip Tree repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
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