Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree)

Liriodendron tulipifera L.

Tulip tree, tulip poplar, yellow poplar

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Magnoliidae	Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order	Magnoliales	Includes the custard apple family, magnolia family, nutmeg family, and others
Family	Magnoliaceae	Magnolia family
Genus	Liriodendron
Species	tulipifera

About plant names...

The American tulip tree is a North American native.

Identification: These trees can reach as much as 164' (50 m) in height in the wild, with tall, straight trunks. They are roughly conical in shape when young, becoming more ungainly or irregular in shape when older. Leaves are alternate, 5" (12 cm) × 8" (20 cm), with leaf stems 3-4" (7.6-10 cm) long. Their shape resembles a tulip, hence the name. Leaves are bright shades of yellow in the fall. Flowers are green, white, or rarely yellow, and also reminiscent of tulips. They have an orange band on the tepals. Fruits are roughly cone-shaped, green, becoming tan. They remain on the tree during the winter.

Liriodendron tulipifera flower. By 3268zauber.

Online References:

Liriodendron tulipifera on www.carolinanature.com

Liriodendron tulipifera on the USDA Plants Database

Liriodendron tulipifera on Wikipedia

Liriodendron tulipifera at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Liriodendron tulipifera at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Liriodendron tulipifera on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Liriodendron tulipifera at the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Liriodendron tulipifera on Wikimedia Commons

Liriodendron tulipifera on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

3/2/2011 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Arizona
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

1/19/2021 · Indigo Landing, Alexandria, Virginia

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 10 × 8" (26 × 21 cm)

1/19/2021 · Indigo Landing, Alexandria, Virginia

Liriodendron tulipifera description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 21 cm)

10/3/2010 · Tarkill Interpretive Trail, Rte 402, Poconos, Peck’s Pond, Pennsylvania
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 31 × 47" (79 × 119 cm)

9/1/2013 · Trail Near James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 21 × 31" (53 × 79 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

10/4/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

Range: Zones 5-9:

About this map...