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Tulip Tree
Scientific Name:
Liriodendron tulipifera
Type:
Tree
Habitat:
Woodlands and stream banks
Range:
Eastern United States
Status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
This species is
NON-NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Tulip trees produce bright green leaves which turn yellow in the fall. The leaves are generally between 4 and 6 inches long. In the spring, flowers are produced, generally near the top of the tree. The flowers are yellow in color with some orange in the middle. These trees are large, growing between 70 and 90 feet tall and 40 feet in diameter.
Fast Facts:
Tulip trees do best in full sun. For optimal growth, they should be planted in a location that receives 6 hours of sunlight a day.
These trees' spring flowers provide nectar which is a favorite of the ruby-throated hummingbirds. Flowers are not produced, however, until the tree is 10 to 15 years old.
The seeds of the tulip trees are favorites among deer, squirrels, and many other wildlife species. Seeds are produced in the summer and often continue to be a reliable food source through the winter!
These trees are native to the eastern United States and Canada. They are commonly found in the Appalachian Mountains growing over 50 feet tall. George Washington planted tulip trees at Mount Vernon which today are 140 feet tall!
These trees are the tallest of North American hardwoods. They grow very rapidly, growing up to 3 feet per year! The height of their trunk has made them popular for canoe carving!
Tulip trees are often cultivated and planted in urban areas such as Idlewild Park in Reno.
Sources:
Arbor Day Foundation, Tuliptree, https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=930
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LITU
IUCN Red List, https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Liriodendron%20tulipifera&searchType=species
Image: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liriodendron_tulipifera_-_La_Hulpe_(1).JPG, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en, cropped from original.
Image: Dcrjsr, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liriodendron_tulipifera_tulip_close.jpg, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Bridget Mulkerin (research & content)
Max Whealon (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)