Taxon

Liriodendron tulipifera

 
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Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip Tree
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Common name: Tulip Tree
Family: Magnoliaceae
Distribution: Eastern North America
Habitat: Mixed deciduous and evergreen forest
IUCN Red list: Least concern
Hardiness: Zone 5b -15 to -10 F
Life form: Deciduous tree
Usage: Ornamental shade tree
Comments: A large, stately, deciduous tree of eastern North America that typically grows 60-90' tall with a pyramidal to broad conical habit. It is named and noted for its cup-shaped, tulip-like flowers that bloom in spring. Flowers are yellow with an orange band at the base of each petal. Although the flowers are 2” in length, they can go unnoticed on large trees because the flowers appear after the leaves are fully developed. Sometimes the flowers are first noticed when the attractive petals begin to fall below the tree. Flowers are followed by dry, scaly, oblong, cone-shaped brown fruits, each bearing numerous winged seeds. Four-lobed bright green leaves to 8” across turn golden yellow in fall.
Best grown in full sun, in moist to well-drained soil, but will tolerate sandy sites and clay. Tolerates areas that have standing water periodically in the winter.
Links: Great Plant Picks • USDA

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