Tulip Poplar Tree

A North American native tree, the Tulip Poplar grows almost anywhere in the US and into Canada. This popular poplar (say THAT 3 times fast) is the state tree of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The Tulip Poplar is indigenous to eastern North America from Ontario, Canada and Illinois east to Massachusetts and Rhode Island and south to Florida and Louisiana.

Tulip Poplar Native States

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware , Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia And West Virginia

The Tulip Poplar grows at a very fast rate of 3 to 5 feet per year. At 70 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide at maturity this poplar is a substantial tree.

The Tulip Poplar is also known as the yellow poplar, tuliptree or fiddletree and botanically as Liriodendron tulipifera. Lovely tulip-like blooms put on quite a show around April in the southern United States and as late as June in the coldest growing regions. These distinctive flowers are yellow-green with bright orange splotches. In fall the green leaves transition to a warm yellow. This tree is extremely tall and has a narrow canopy in relation to its height. But it still provides shade galore with its dense foliage and massive size.

This Poplar stands apart from similar fast growing trees as a strong hardwood with a long lifespan.

Tulip Poplar Care

The Tulip Poplar tree is recommended for growing zones 4 to 9.

This tree performs best in full sun and slightly acidic soils that are moist, but well-drained and loose-textured. It is able to tolerate wet sites, but is also drought tolerant.

Water deeply 2 to 3 times weekly with a hose for the first 3 months after planting. This helps the tree's roots establish properly and grow downward rather than staying shallow in search of water. You will want to continue to keep the ground moist, especially for the first year in order to get the fastest growth. Try using a Treegator and/or adding 2 inches of mulch to your young tree to reduce hand watering needs.

Fertilize in early spring with our slow release fertilizer.

Poplars don't generally require pruning, but if needed prune Tulip Poplars when they are dormant in winter or early spring to remove any dead, dying, or crowded branches, or to maintain shape.

If you live in a particularly windy area staking is a good option for this tree. In its youth the Tulip Poplar is a fairly thin whip with minimal branches. Just keep in mind it grows fast so be sure not to allow girdling of the trunk.

The tulip tree is resistant to pests and disease and extremely low maintenance.

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