Tuliptree

Liriodendron tulipifera

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Magnoliaceae
Genus:
Liriodendron
Species:
Liriodendron tulipifera

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:
Yellow, Green, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Canada: Ontario

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Endopiza liriodendrana, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Io moth (Automeris io), Leopard moth (Zeuzera pyrina), Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), Luna moth (Actias luna), Perimede erransella, Phyllocnistis liriodendronella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea), root collar borer (Euzophera ostricolorella), saucereye silkmoth (Callosamia securifera), Teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera), Tulip-tree beauty (Epimecis hortaria), Tulip-tree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera), Walker’s Atlas Moth (Samia walkeri), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage preferred
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers deep, fertile soils

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are either sown in outdoor nursery beds in the fall soon after collection and cleaning for natural stratification or placed in cold moist stratification for 70 days.

Establishment: Seeds are collected from various locations, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, National Capital Parks-East, Shenandoah National Park, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and local sources in south central Missouri. The general distribution of Liriodendron tulipifera ranges from Vermont to southern Michigan, Missouri and south to Florida and Louisiana, and is also found in temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States.

Source: npn.rngr.net