Tulip Tree

Native to Eastern North America, the tulip tree is naturally located in 29 states and can also be found in Ontario, Canada. This species ranges from Vermont and Michigan all the way to Florida and Louisiana. Frequently, you will find these trees located in habitats such as rich woods or stream banks. Tulip trees are able to thrive on a variety of different soil types. In general, these trees grow naturally and well on soils that are moist, well-drained, loamy, and slightly acidic, but can also grow in sandy and clay soils. Tulip trees prefer seasonal climates, moderate moisture, and full sun.

Although we may not know how old this particular tree is, tulip trees are long-lived and fast- growing trees. Lifespans can reach 300 years of age! With a growth rate of 24 inches per year, these trees can grow to heights from 70 to 90 feet, or more. Larger trees can achieve a canopy spread of 40 feet at maturity. The tulip tree presented here is a large, mature tree with a canopy radius of 30 feet providing a nice shaded area to study. 

Although the size of this species varies depending on location, a common noticeable characteristic that is general for the tulip tree species includes the bark that encapsulates the  tree’s trunk. On younger trees, the bark is smooth and tends to be green. As the tree ages, the bark color becomes a brownish-gray as wide,deep, furrows that separate flat ridges develop. The bark of this tree has some benefits as the inner bark was used medicinally by the first nations and has also been reported to have been used in the late 1800’s as well. Medicines such as antiarthritic medicine, cough syrup, worming medicine, and even cholera remedies were created using this bark. 

The tree is also prized for its hardwood, which is often used for furniture. In addition, Native Americans, early European settlers, and even the American pioneer Daniel Boone, carved canoes using tulip trees for their typically straight, tall trunks due to their light and buoyant nature. Nearby, you will find a large American Sycamore tree, which is another tree that was used for canoes!

Moving to the top portion of the tree, depending on when you visit, you may notice the tree rich with bright green leaves. These leaves are distinguishable due to the common four main lobes that make up the leaf. In the fall, leaves turn a golden yellow and drop from the branches. This is because tulip trees are deciduous trees and will drop their leaves with the seasons. 

As I mentioned, these trees are named for their cup-shaped flowers that resemble tulips. Tulip trees usually produce their first flowers at around 15 to 20 years of age, and, once they reach sexual maturity, flower production can continue for 200 years. Flowers bloom late in spring and are considered perfect flowers because each flower contains both male and female reproductive structures. In fact, self-pollination is able to occur – this tree can have sex with itself. However, due to the showy and fragrant flowers, cross-pollination is also able to occur with the help of various pollinators and insects. Insects such as honey bees, bumblebees, beetles, and flies are often observed on these opened flowers. 

As flowering plants, tulip trees also have the ability to produce fruits. Following pollination of a flower, seeds develop, and the ovaries surrounding the seeds turn into fruits. However, not all fruits are appetizing for humans. In tulip trees, the fruits are brown, dry, scaly, and cone-shaped. These fruits bear numerous winged seeds that disperse when they mature in late fall. Maturation and ripening of fruits occurs from late August to late October depending on the location, and seed fall begins in mid-October. The winged seeds are dispersed by the wind, traveling distances up to four or five times the height of the tree. They retain their viability for four to seven years in the forest floor. If they do not become trees, the seeds provide food for both birds and mammals. 

If you found the tulip tree fascinating, I recommend checking out the Southern Magnolia tree. The Southern Magnolia is another member of the Magnolia family and therefore a close relative of the tulip tree. Despite these species being in the same family, they are each unique in their own way. Thank you, and I hope you continue to explore the wide diversity of trees this campus has to offer!

These resources are a product of Dr. Sara Wright’s Plant Diversity course in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department. My name is Nicole Hopkins, and I will earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences in 2021. I plan to pursue a career in the health professions. You can read more about me and the Tulip Tree below.