I’ve been walking passed this beautiful tulip tree on the village green for many years, without looking at it particularly and seeing it for what it is. Today the sun was just catching the lime-yellow flowers and they were glowing. Like massive lanterns. It was all lit up and having its moment.
Side on, you can see orange markings towards the base of the petals … and that distinctive cup-like shape.
Most of the flowers were out of reach, high up in the canopy, blending in easily with those unusual, truncated, rectangular-shaped leaves. Liriodendron tulipifera, aka the tulip tree, is a native of the eastern United States
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They are a pretty, stately tree, esp. in bloom– we have a few close by. A neighbor has one and gave me a seedling, which I planted near the river, habitat they prefer. Their mature size makes them not well suited to home landscaping, so we don’t see them here all that often.
Yes, the one on the village green is pretty big, probably about 40ft. How big is yours? Does it flower yet? Glad you’ve got the space and right environment for it.
The one I have is only a seedling planted last year, but it has doubled over last year, so I think it likes where it lives. Its parent up the road is probably 50 ft. and dominates the side yard!
It’s a pretty one, that’s for sure and definitely having its moment.
Yes! It’s a bit of an oddity in the village here. I must try to find out who planted it.
I’ve always thought of a completely different plant when I hear ‘tulip tree.’ The ones called by that name here in the south are a species of magnolia; this is quite different, and lovely.
Ha, that’s common names for you! This does belong to the magnolia family. What were you thinking of?
Here’s an article that explains it all, including the relationship between our pink ‘tulip tree,’ which also turns out to be a magnolia, and your tulip tree, which is the official tulip tree. What really surprised me was finding that tulips ALSO are in the magnolia family! Good heavens…
Apparently I can’t read that article, because I am from a country that enforces GDPR. That’s a shame!
Phooey. Hang on…
Here you go — the first paragraphs, at least:
Throughout our neighborhoods and the city, the most prominent and visible large pink flowering tree is the saucer Magnolia, Magnolia xsoulangiana. When you see an “X” placed before the species botanical name, it signifies that the plant is a hybrid between two different species. Such is the case in this Magnolia, a cross of M. denudate and M. liliflora, both Asian species.
The original tree was raised in the garden of Etienne Soulange-Bodin in Fromont, France, near Paris, where it first flowered in 1826, and it bears part of that name, botanically.
This Magnolia is known by several names: Soulangiana Magnolia, saucer Magnolia, deciduous Magnolia (although there are many deciduous types of Magnolias), Japanese Magnolia and tulip tree. However, calling it by this latter name results in some confusion, as another tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is called the tulip tree or tulip poplar, and is the accepted plant for the name of tulip tree among the professionals. Adding to this dilemma is the real tulip tree is also in the Magnolia family.
The flowers appear on the saucer Magnolia at a young age on 2-foot to 4-foot plants. And the tree is a prolific bloomer with large, fragrant, goblet shaped pinkish-purple flowers. The six waxy petals, when fully opened, form a “saucer” of petals measuring 3 inches to 6 inches in diameter.
Thank you. That’s very kind!