Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Magnoliales>Magnoliaceae>Liriodendron tulipifera L.

Other names: Tulip-Poplar, Yellow-Poplar

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) leaves

Tuliptree is one of our largest, most common, and familiar trees. It's most abundant in bottomlands and often associates with Sweetgum. The leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, and bark are unique — it would be difficult to confuse it with any other species (apart from the very similar Chinese version).

Newly emerged leaf.

Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) leaves

Newly emerged leaves.

Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) flower

The flowers are somewhat reminiscent of tulips, giving the tree its name. They may be difficult to see before they fall to the ground, since they are often 100 feet or more overhead in the canopy.

Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) flower

Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Haywood Co., NC 5/9/08.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Haywood Co., NC 5/9/08.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Tulip-Poplar is one of the host plants for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. At left you can see a freshly laid green egg on the left lobe of the leaf.

Haywood Co., NC 5/10/08.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Bark of a sapling.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Bark of a mature tree.

More information:
Silvics Manual
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides