Tulip Tree

[dukeofdoom]

Any experiences growing a tulip tree? I saw one close up this weekend for the first time, not in flower, and I really liked the lush leaves that the tree has (saw the flowers on-line) This has to be one of the pretties native north american trees. Why isn't it grown more often?

[canadianplant]

Size. ITs concidered to be the largest eastern hardwood tree, reaching on abverage 130feet, the record being 190feet. THey arent too uncommon from what ive read, just that they are big, which makes them hard to place in an average city lot.

[lucky1]

Are you talking about Liriodendron? (spelling?) aka similar to London Plane Tree?

if so, they do grow to be massive in 10-20 years.
Usually too big for most city lots.

The leaves are a gorgeous light green color and have a lovely shape.
Kind of like a maple tree without points.
Just as messy if I recall.

Barb

[dukeofdoom]

Yes, Liriodendron with yellow tulip like flowers. I've been to the Redwood forests in Washington, and Oregon, it was a very memorable experience. Is there a region in Ontario or Michigan where there is a forest of Tulip trees, preferably where you can go camping? I find it interesting that there are redwood trees growing in big cities like Seattle, and they are revered there because of their size. Yet that same appreciation for big trees has not carried over to eastern cities.

Having said that, I can't plant it in my backyard because it would be too big. Though wouldn't mind if my city planted a few of these in their parks.


Has anyone tried growing Abutilon (Flowering Maple) outdoors? Will this even grow into a tree? I saw this in Home depot, and looked it up on-line, and its hardy to zone 7b and it is suppose to flower profusely through out the year.

[bgodwin1987]

I like these trees there are some here growing along the creek on our property. I appreciate the unique shape of the leaves and the flowers. I have read that they are related to both poplars and Magnolias. I have noticed though theres some kind of scale or something on some of them and its like leaking sap and ants are all over it.

[seedscanada]

Growing tulip tress (liriodendron) are difficult from seed. I have tried many times. Never succeeded. I have read, one seed in a hundred germinates. Many are planted in and around where I live. They are messy, with their seeds like maple keys. The tallest around here? Maybe 80 feet, but I haven't been looking around much.

[bgodwin1987]

They are a Pioneer species im constantly pulling seedlings out of my flower beds, they seem to grow pretty fast too.

[canadianplant]

They might not be as invasive in S Ontario, because Im pretty sure the southern tip and lake front areas are the native range. Here is what the USDA says about it:

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Yellow-poplar inhabits eastern North America. The species ranges from
Vermont, west through southern Ontario and Michigan, south to Louisiana,
and east to northern Florida [1,2].


ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES10 White - red - jack pine
FRES13 Loblolly - shortleaf pine
FRES14 Oak - pine
FRES15 Oak - hickory
FRES16 Oak - gum - cypress
FRES18 Maple - beech - birch

SAF COVER TYPES :
21 Eastern white pine
22 White pine
51 White pine - chestnut oak
52 White oak - black oak - northern red oak
53 White oak
55 Northern red oak
57 Yellow poplar
58 Yellow poplar - eastern hemlock
59 Yellow poplar - white oak - northern red oak
60 Beech - sugar maple
64 Sassafras - persimmon
81 Loblolly pine
82 Loblolly pine - hardwood
87 Sweet gum - yellow poplar
91 Swamp chestnut oak - cherrybark oak

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
Yellow-poplar has been planted onto surface coal mine reclamation sites
with variable results, but total failures are rare [7,29]. One-year-old
seedlings planted on sites in Kentucky and Illinois showed good survival
rates (24 percent) for 30 years after planting. Yellow-poplar should be
planted in mixtures with other hardwoods. Yellow-poplar growth under
decadent black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in Indiana was good. In
eastern Kentucky height growth nearly doubled when yellow-poplar was
interplanted with European alder (Alnus glutinosa) [29]. One-year-old
seedlings are recommended for planting [29].

The lower pH limit for yellow-poplar on acid mine spoils is 4.5 [29].
Liming the spoils before planting has improved yellow-poplar
establishment on acid spoils in Pennsylvania [14].

Yellow-poplar is shade intolerant and responds well to overstory
thinning. Yellow-poplar was four times taller and five times larger in
dbh in an 18-year-old stand where all the overstory vegetation had been
removed than in the control [2]. Lamson [18] has provided information
on thinning. Yellow-poplar responds well to fertilization. It grew
twice as tall on sites fertilized with diammonium phosphate at a rate of
500 pounds per acre (562 kg/ha) than on control sites [10].

REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Yellow-poplar is mainly insect pollinated, with some selfing. It a
prolific seed producer. It first produces seed at 15 to 20 years of age
and continues to do so for more than 200 years [1]. Heavy seed crops
tend to compensate for low seed viability (around 5-20 percent)

Seeds require a cold stratification period, and
germination rates vary with time and temperature. Generally as
temperature decreases and time increases the germination rate increases;
for example, 90 percent germination occurred after 140 days at 36
degrees Fahrenheit (2 deg C) [1,3]. Germination is epigeal and occurs
when seeds remain constantly moist for several weeks [3,5]. Germination
is enhanced on mineral soil or on well-decomposed humus [2].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Yellow-poplar grows best on north and east aspects, lower slopes,
sheltered coves, and gentle concave slopes [1,27].

Soils: Growth is best on moderately deep loams that are moderately
moist, well drained, and loose textured [1,27].

Associated species: Overstory associates include baldcypress (Taxodium
distichum), tupelo (Nyssa spp.), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), shortleaf
pine (P. echinata), eastern white pine (P. strobus), oaks (Quercus
spp.), white ash (Fraxinus americana), American beech (Fagus
grandifolia), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and hickory (Carya spp.)
[1,2].

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plan ... l/all.html

IT needs maximum sunlight and disterbed, fertile soil. Since they need to be stratified, you can sow them on a fresh soil bed in fall, or sow them in a baggie and throw em in the fridge for 3-4 months. There is some info about forest cover types, which should point you into a good area to find them in the wild. They also seem to colonize fresh burned forest, so possibly check areas that have been burned in the last decade or so.

This page also suggests that it would be wise to plant a "nurse plant", such as a nitrofying tree or shrub close to it, to aid its young growth (black locust, alder and hickory)

The bonus is, this tree associates with some other cool trees like Pawpaw and some magnolia, and even bald cyprus. You may find a few other interesting things in your search!

[dukeofdoom]

Thanks for the info about Tulip Trees.

I visited Rondeau Provincial Park and Point Pelee in the last two days and I saw quite a few Tulip trees ... now that I knew what they look like. There are many more of them at Ronduea, at least where I went, than at Point Pelee. However, none of the ones I've seen are truly big monsters. And compared to a Redwood forest, its not as impressive because the Tulip Trees tend to grow mixed in with other trees and are still much smaller. However, I saw little lizzards running around in Point Pelee and the forest is covered in tropical looking vines, pretty impressive for Ontario.

Since I started this topic, I started looking at the trees in Windsor too. I think I found an actually Redwood tree growing near Sand Point beach (on lake St. Clair). Its very big too. Is this even possible? Can Redwoods grow in Ontario? I would post a link to it on street view, but I don't think I can post links just yet.

[canadianplant]

Yes and no.

Im sure one of the 2 "sequiadendron and sequoia" should, one is rated to zone 6, and there are clear zone 6 and 7 down south in the right areas. Please post a pic. it may be dawn redwood (metasequia glyptostroboids)

Im assuming youre looking for a massive tree, that reminds you of the west?

[lucky1]

but I don't think I can post links just yet.

I can't remember if there's a "tenure" restriction...but I think you should be able to post links.

Barb