What Can I Do With My Tulip Poplar Tree?

Specimen Tree Worthy

• The tulip poplar has few problems achieving sizes between 70 and 90 feet. Native to the East from southern areas in New England to Florida, it sometimes tops 150 feet tall. It has foliage that is as long and wide as 8 inches, with each leaf featuring a shape resembling the silhouette of a tulip. This alone gives the tree ornamental appeal, but the flowers, which are combinations of orange, green and yellow, look like those of the tulip as well. The furrowed gray bark is attractive, notes the University of Connecticut Plant Database. All these features combine to make the tulip poplar a worthy specimen tree for your yard.

Factors to Consider

• The potential for the tulip tree to reach great heights limits where you can use one in your landscape. This species requires a wide-open area where it can grow without hindrance. Other factors dictating where you may use a tulip poplar include the tree's affinity for slightly acidic, fertile and damp soil and the tree's disdain for hot, dry sites. You can plant a tulip poplar safely between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, states the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Pluses and Minuses

• Among the pluses the tulip poplar has going for it is that the tree is not a favorite target of the ravenous gypsy moth that often defoliates other species. The tulip poplar has the ability to generate showy fall color with its foliage, as it turns shades of yellow. Included in the drawbacks of the tulip poplar is that few plants grow underneath it because of its shallow root system. The wood is weak and prone to damage during storms. The tulip poplar, while relatively free of disease and insect pests, is vulnerable to attack from aphids, which can then precipitate problems with its foliage. The showy flowers develop near the top of the tree, making them hard to view.

Cultivar Options

• You can opt for different cultivars of the tulip poplar to fit your particular tastes and needs within the landscape. Smaller versions include Compactum and Ardis, which are available for landowners with smaller yards. A variegated form known as Aureomarginatum has an impeccable reputation for producing green-yellow leaves. It will grow as tall as 80 feet, meaning it requires plenty of space. A rare type of the tulip poplar, featuring nearly rectangular leaves, is Integrifolium.