tulipifera

Liriodendron tulipifera, commonly known as the tulip tree, tulipwood, or yellow poplar, is a large deciduous tree native to the deciduous forests of eastern North America. It is widely cultivated in temperate regions for timber and as an ornamental landscape tree.

The tree typically reaches heights of 80 to 100 feet, with a straight trunk and a broad, rounded crown. Leaves are distinctive, palmately lobed with four lobes and a truncated tip, resembling a tulip. They turn yellow in autumn. In spring, the tree produces showy, cup-shaped flowers with yellow-green petals and orange markings. The fruit is a tall, woody cone that disintegrates to release winged seeds in autumn.

Native range spans eastern North America from southern Ontario and Quebec south to Florida and Alabama, and west to the Mississippi River valley. It grows in a variety of habitats, including floodplains, bottomlands, and well-drained uplands, and tolerates a range of soils and moisture levels.

Uses of the wood, marketed as tulipwood or yellow poplar, are valued for being pale and fine-grained and easy to work. It is used for furniture, veneer, plywood, interior trim, and musical instruments.

Ecology and management notes indicate that the species is relatively fast-growing and drought-tolerant once established, but can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases if stressed. It remains a popular choice for ornamental plantings due to its spring blossoms and vibrant autumn color.