Tulip Poplar

The Tulip Poplar - neither a tulip nor a poplar tree - is the state tree of Indiana. It is more closely related to the magnolia tree; the name "tulip" refers to its tulip-shaped flowers. The tree you see here is relatively young, planted recently after the tree previously in this spot was split and damaged by a storm. Once it reaches its full size, however, the tulip poplar has the potential to be one of the tallest of American hardwood trees.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Liriodendron tulipifera

HISTORY: Native Americans and early settlers often used the wood of the tulip poplar to create canoes, giving it the nickname of the "canoe tree"; Daniel Boone built his 60' dugout canoe from one of these trees.

LEAVES: The leaves of the tulip poplar are quite unique with a four-lobed, flat-tipped shape. They are bright green and turn to yellow or golden yellow in the fall.

FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEED: Tulip poplars have cone-shaped winged seeds that are about 2 inches long.

FLOWERS: 2-inch tulip-like flowers grow between April and June on the tulip poplar. They are yellow-green in color with an orange band at the base of each petal.

BARK: A young tree will have smooth, ashy-gray bark with shallow furrows. With age, the bark gets thicker with deep interlacing furrows and rounded ridges.

HEIGHT: The tulip poplar tree can attain heights of 80-120 feet.

USES: The wood of the tulip poplar has always been important for commercial purposes. It is used for furniture stock, veneer, and pulpwood. The tulip poplar is often used for reforestation purposes because of its rapid growth.

SOURCES:

https://www.uky.edu/hort/Tulip-Poplar

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_litu.pdf

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/tuliptree/#overview

The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.