How to Grow and Care for a Tulip Tree

Planting a Tulip Tree

Tulip tree saplings can be purchased from a local nursery and planted any time between spring and early fall. They’ll fare best in a sunny spot in moist, well-drained, compost-amended soil. Bark mulch or wood chips will protect their shallow roots and help to keep the soil moist—young trees need lots of water.

Size is a factor in deciding where to plant your tulip tree: They can reach 90 feet or more in height, with a canopy width of just under one-half their height at maturity.

Tulip Tree Care

Tulip trees have a storied history—in fact, you’ve probably seen them numerous times and not even recognized them. A member of the Magnolia family, tulip trees are known for their massive height and sturdy wood. Early settlers used yellow poplar for railroad ties and fence posts. Favored by Native Americans and explorer Daniel Boone for making canoes, George Washington even planted several tulip trees at Mount Vernon.

A tulip tree will either get to its full width or full height, but not both. Trees with full access to the sun will reach full width and stay shorter, and trees with less access to the sun will grow taller and less wide. The branches begin rather far up the straight trunk and are often arranged symmetrically. However, the trade-off for their fast growth is relatively weak limbs, which can create a hazard in storms.

Light

Tulip trees prefer full sun or partial sun. Full shade can stunt the tree’s growth and cause its leaves to turn brown. The sunnier the area where you plant your tulip tree, the better.

Soil

These trees prefer slightly acidic, well-drained, deep soil amended with plenty of compost. They can thrive, though, within a pH range of 5.0 to 8.0. Tulip trees can handle clay, sandy, or loamy soils as long as the soil doesn’t hold water too long.

Water

As you get your tree started, water it regularly during dry, hot spells and keep an eye on its leaves. If you notice the leaves drop earlier than usual (early fall is typical), this could indicate the tree is not getting enough water.

Temperature and Humidity

Tulip trees like a temperate climate, which is why they can typically be found in the eastern United States. While it prefers normal moisture levels, it can tolerate drought in locations with high humidity.

Fertilizer

Granular, liquid, or stake-type fertilizers are recommended for tulip trees. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions. Newly planted trees respond well to fertilization, but older trees generally don’t require it. However, nitrogen fertilizers should not be used on newly planted trees.

Types of Tulip Tree

Tulip trees are sometimes referred to as “tulip poplar” and “yellow poplar” trees, perhaps because their leaves shake in the breeze like those of poplars. However, they are not poplars at all and instead belong to the Magnoliaceae family. Cultivars of tulip trees include:

• ‘Emerald City’: Darker green foliage, upright, oval growth reaching 55 feet high and 25 feet wide
• ‘Little Volunteer’: A dwarf cultivar, growing just 30 to 35 feet high and 18 to 20 feet wide; features smaller leaves
• ‘Arnold’: Narrow form with columnar crown, early to flower
• ‘Fastigiatum’: Upright, narrow form growing to 40 feet high and 15 feet wide

Pruning Tulip Trees

Because tulip trees grow so fast, pruning is imperative in order to keep them shapely and controlled. Their large branches are not particularly sturdy and can pose a hazard. Remove dead or weak growth in late winter and early spring, and do a thorough thinning every few years.

Propagating Tulip Trees

If you choose not to purchase your tulip tree from a nursery, you can instead propagate one using cuttings from a mother tree by following these steps:

1. Take cuttings in the fall, selecting branches that are at least 18 inches or longer. Cut the branch just outside of the swollen area where it attaches to the tree.
2. Place the cuttings in a bucket of water with rooting hormone added, following the directions on the label.
3. When you’re ready to propagate, line a planter bucket with burlap and fill it with potting soil. Plunge the cut end of the branch approximately eight inches into the soil, then cover the cutting with plastic to hold in the humidity.
4. Place the bucket in a protected area that gets bright, indirect light. Check for root development a few weeks later. Your tulip tree should be ready for transplanting by spring.

How to Grow Tulip Trees From Seed

Though it is uncommon to grow a tulip tree from seed, it can be done if you have the patience. You can harvest seeds in the fall, after the pods have dropped from the tree. You can’t miss the seed pods since they look like little dried cone-like tulip flowers. Take these steps:

1. When the pods are a light tan, harvest them before the seeds become separated. Dry the pods for a few days and then the seeds (that look like little wings to help them fly through the air) will begin to separate.
2. Stratify moistened seeds in a refrigerator or other chilled space for 60 to 90 days to create a period of dormancy.
3. Put the seeds into seedling pots filled with potting mix that is a bit acidic. Bury the seeds with a thin layer of soil, but don’t just scatter them across the top of the soil.
4. Keep soil moist until the spring when you can plant the seedlings in their permanent spot outdoors.

Common Pests

Tulip trees attract tulip tree scales and tulip tree aphids. Their feeding produces honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold. These pests are temporary and rarely require control measures.

Common Problems With Tulip Trees

This tree is relatively low-maintenance. But they do present a few problems. Keep an eye out for some of these common issues:

Breakage

The wood of the tulip tree is very soft and the twigs, limbs, and branches are prone to breakage, especially in a windy location.

Litter and Sap

Tulip trees can be very messy, as their flower petals will litter the area below just after blooming, which is not ideal for locations like sidewalks and street areas. The trees are also notorious for dropping sticky sap, so avoid planting a tulip tree near an area where cars will be parked—it’s no fun trying to remove the sap from a car windshield.

Not Flowering

Your tulip tree may not flower if it is young. If a mature tree that is older than 15 years old is not flowering, it may be because your climate is too hot and dry, your soil is too compacted and not enough water is reaching the roots, or the tree is planted too deep, which buries the root collar and affects blooming.