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THE GARDEN SAGEA library of living things
Trees & woodland lore · Western North Carolina field companion

Tulip poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

Tulip-tree leaf close-up: four broad lobes and a notched, almost squared-off tip.
Tulip-tree leaf close-up: four broad lobes and a notched, almost squared-off tip.☀ Full sunCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.

Fast native canopy tree for large sites; brittle branches and enormous size exclude small yards.

Sun Exposure
Full sun
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
70–100
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
35–50
BLOOM SEASON
Late spring
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Get to know this plant.

Identification clue 1

Four-lobed leaves with a cut-off tip

Identification clue 2

Tulip-shaped flowers

Identification clue 3

Upright clusters of winged seeds

Read the leaves

The squared or notched top looks as though the leaf tip was clipped away. This is a powerful clue on an intact mature leaf.

More growing details

Read the bark

Older bark forms long pale-gray furrows and ridges.

Fruit & seed

An upright cone-shaped cluster releases separate winged samaras; it is not a conifer cone.

Winter character

Duckbill-shaped buds and remaining upright fruit axes help identify bare twigs.

Origin & place

The species occurs naturally in the southern Appalachian region; a planted specimen is not evidence of wild local origin.

Compare with Maples

Most maple leaves taper to a pointed central lobe and grow opposite; tulip poplar leaves are alternate.

WNC Notes

Fast native canopy tree for large sites; brittle branches and enormous size exclude small yards.

Sun Exposure

Full sun

MATURE HEIGHT (FT)

70–100

MATURE WIDTH (FT)

35–50

BLOOM SEASON

Late spring

BLOOM COLOR

Yellow-green-orange

FALL / WINTER COLOR

Yellow

Wet-Soil Tolerance

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Low–moderate

LOOK CLOSELY

Two views, a closer look.

Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.

Tulip-tree leaf close-up: four broad lobes and a notched, almost squared-off tip.
Tulip-tree leaf close-up: four broad lobes and a notched, almost squared-off tip.☀ Full sunCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.
Shoots with old, spent fruits and emerging new leaves. — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.
Shoots with old, spent fruits and emerging new leaves. — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.☀ Full sunCathy DeWitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.

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