Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera Liriodendron tulipifera is one of the tallest trees in the eastern United States. Its native range extends from Connecticut down the eastern seaboard to northern Florida, west to Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana, and southern Illinois. In fact, it’s the state tree of Indiana, where enormous specimens can be found with trunks up to five feet in diameter and heights in excess of 100 feet. The tree is excurrent in growth habit, having a strong central leader. Mature tulip trees often lack branches for 50 or more feet from the ground, as if the main trunk were racing toward the sunlight. The leaf’s outline strongly resembles that of a tulip, hence not only the Latin name, but also the common names of tulip tree or tulip poplar. This species is also sometimes called yellow poplar, although it is not at all related to the trees of the Populus genus such as poplars, cottonwoods, or aspens. The tulip tree’s leaves turn a brilliant yellow in the fall, which makes the species an excellent landscape centerpiece. Early yellowing of the leaves in mid-summer, however, can be a sign of stress caused by drought or poor soil conditions. Liriodendron tulipifera is a member of the magnolia family, known for showy flowers. The tulip tree is no exception, boasting erect, cup-shaped flowers that are green-ish yellow with orange bases that bloom in May. The tree also has distinctive, flattened “duckbill” buds. This is a good winter identification tool, if there are branches low enough for the buds to be seen. While the tulip tree might be thought of as a more southern species, with a changing climate, it is being planted with more regularity in the Chicago region. For more information on this species, please contact [email protected]. Openlands.org .