Tree Categories: Fall Color Trees, Fast Growing Trees, Flowering Trees, and Shade Trees
Mature Tree Height: 60+ feet tall | Mature Tree Width: 30+ feet wide
Tree Growing Zones: Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, and Zone 9
The Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a large-sized, fast-growing flowering tree. It is known for its tulip-shaped flowers that bloom on mature trees (at least 12 years) after the bright green leaves emerge. The flowers are medium-sized and have yellow-green petals with an orange base. They appear higher up on the tree, creating a subtle but good-looking appearance. Its form is pyrimadal when young and maturing to a more rounded, oval form. In the fall, cone-like fruits appear and stay on the tree into the winter. The foliage is large and glossy with 4 lobes. Its fall foliage is yellow and sometimes quite stunning but not reliable every year.
The Tulip Tree is native to Massachusetts, down to Florida and Mississippi and west to Wisconsin. They are found in the wild growing in deep, moist soils along streams, in lower mountain coves, near swamps, and bottomlands. Great choice as a specimen plant standing on its own. It prefers moist soils with room to spread its roots. Does not do well in very dry or very wet conditions. It grows best in full sun.
