Native Hardwood has Unique Spring and Fall Interest
The Tulip poplar tree actually is not a poplar at all but is a member of the magnolia family. The tulip poplar leaves are tulip-shaped and simple. The yellow poplar leaf is smooth on both surfaces, dark green and lustrous above, and often pale with a slight whitish bloom beneath.
This beautiful tree is covered in light, greenish-yellow tulip shaped flowers with an orange band from April to June in the summer months. The tulip poplar flower puts on a gorgeous display during the spring and summer blooming season.
It is a prolific seed bearer, but it has low percent germination. The cone shaped fruit clusters usually persist on branches with weak wood.
The yellow tulip tree also features fantastic yellow color. The bright green leaves turn golden yellow for great fall color. The Tulip Poplar tree is a favorite wildlife system for beavers and porcupines who frequently nest near these trees or use the wood to build beaver dams.
Tulip Poplar Growth Rate
This tree is rapidly growing and will eventually grow up to a mature height of 80 to 120 feet tall and a trunk diameter of 2 to 5 feet. Young trees have a pyramidal form. The fast growth rate is up to 2-3 feet per year if planted in full sun.
Tulip Poplar Tree Care
The Tulip Poplar does best on moderately moist, deep, well drained, loose textured soils. It rarely grows well in very dry or very wet situations or in clay soils. Plant this bright yellow poplar in full to partial sun.
Can be grown over most of the United States in the department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 4-9. This fast growing tree is especially popular in eastern north America. Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana have named this native tree as their state tree. A great choice for a fast growing shade tree as well.
Be sure to water well the first year of planting to establish a strong root system so the Liriodendron tulipifera can last for years to come. Not shipped bare root, it is rooted in a pot with soil. It is very easy to plant and will come with planting instructions.
Check out our Tulip Poplar tree for sale for beautiful yellow flowers year after year.
Check out our other beautiful flowering trees!
Liriodendron tulipifera
- Fast growth rate
- Yellow flowers
- Shade tree
- Fall color
Growing our own plants and trees helps to ensure we ship you the best quality plants that are free of pests and diseases.
Roxie –
Purchasing from Perfect Plants made the experience of online shopping a pleasure
Leslie (verified owner) –
Arrived in good shape with lots of healthy foliage, a few brown leaves which is to be expected. Nice branching habit already established
Perfect Plants (store manager) –
Hi Leslie, thank you for the response on the Tulip poplar tree. We are confident your tree will bounce back once planted in the ground. They truly are lovely trees. Enjoy!
Karl B. (verified owner) –
So far so good. We will see if it survives the winter
Perfect Plants (store manager) –
We hope your new Tulip Poplar Tree thrives!
Sallie D. (verified owner) –
Did not survive transplanting
christine ryan (verified owner) –
Unfortunately, one of the 5 poplars is not doing well. They have all lost their leaves, planted perfectly. I will have to wait and see if these poplars will survive. They arrived wilted from inside boxes, maybe too warm during shipment. Sorry, but we will see what happens here.