Liriodendron tulipifera

• BOTANICAL NAME: Liriodendron tulipifera
• COMMON NAME: Tuliptree
• FAMILY: Magnoliaceae
• NATIVITY: Commonly found from Massachusetts to Florida east to Mississippi.
• GROWTH HABIT: 70-90’ (150’)
• HARDINESS:  USDA Zone 4 to 9
• OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS:  Moist rich woods and full sun.  This is a large climax species so it often needs space to grow to full size.
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:  Climax
• FACULTATIVE STATUS:  Facultative Upland
• LANDSCAPE VALUE:  Grows well in forests and large areas, often grows around forested parking lots and large residential areas.  Very attractive to squirrels.
• FOLIAGE:   Very identifiable leaves.  Alternate, simples, truncate apex, with short-acuminate lobes on each side, three lobes.  Looks like a tulip top.  Yellow fall color.
• BUDS:  Valvate, somewhat like a matchstick.  Covered in bloom.  
• BARK:  Gray-brown, slightly furrowed, flattened ridges.
• FRUIT:  Aggregation of samaras that shatter in the fall.  Flowers are in the spring and are greenish yellow with six petals; perfect.
• PESTS:  Cankers, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and chlorosis are just some of many.