Tulip Poplar

As low as $59.99 was $79.99
Availability: In stock
SKU
327

For an impressive shade tree that makes an enormous impact on the landscape, try this gorgeous native hardwood tree with a long foothold in American history! However, we do have a confession to make. During the Revolutionary War, the Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is commonly planted as "Liberty trees" that were immediately cut down when found by the British soldiers. George Washington even featured them at his Mount Vernon estate. The Tulip tree is so beautiful, that museums and botanical gardens across the country have Tulip Tree walks, where paths are lined with these remarkable trees.

Just take a good look at the photos and you'll understand why it's nicknamed the "Tulip" tree or Yellow Poplar, and even Tuliptree. But we have a confession. The Tulip Poplar is neither a Tulip nor a Poplar! Instead, this is a native relative of the Magnolia family, and you know they have a big effect each spring, summer and autumn!

Just take a good look at the photos and you'll understand why it's nicknamed the Tulip tree or Yellow Poplar. Like everything else about this standout shade tree, the big tulip-shaped blooms make a huge statement! Easily one of the most balanced growth of all the shade trees, this upright tree has a stately appearance from a young age!

In spring, this shapely tree is absolutely covered with flowers. The greenish-yellow flowers are each splotched with dabs of neon orange! These bright cupped blooms have a wonderful Magnolia family fragrance and bring a whole lot of visual interest! Don't worry, the huge flowers are in perfect scale with instantly recognizable, oversized leaves. These bright green leaves have an endearing modified star shape. Oh, and the fall color? The unique leaves turn a brilliant, blaze-yellow in autumn. What a standout!

Planting and Application:

This is the perfect tree for lining a drive or walkway as the roots stay deep and the tree is not messy. Place this wonderful hardwood tree on the south or southwest side of your house to give invaluable dappled shade to a patio or picture window. You'll love the lowered cooling costs in summer! Block the hot afternoon sun from family activities and provide welcome relief from the summer heat. Site the tree where you'll see the flower display in spring and its fall show from inside your home! Don't miss a moment of the "wow" factor this tree delivers!

Like many native trees, Tulip Poplar is a great hideaway tree for birds. Birds love to build their nests in it. Watch for hummingbirds and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies who love to sip the nectar from the incredible flowers. Plus these natives play Host Plant to the Tuliptree Silkmoth and Tiger Swallowtail larvae. Pair this beauty up with other fall coloring trees that feed birds and shelter wildlife for a great contrast of color in the autumn landscape that serves as a hotel and buffet for your feathered friends.

  • Incredible Fragrant Early Spring Flowers
  • Large Leaves with Golden & Yellow Fall Color
  • Great Hardwood Tree & Native
  • Deep Roots, Easy Fall Clean-Up & Fast Growing
  • Good Lawn Tree, Shade Tree, Bird Habitat & Pollinator-Friendly

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Disease and pest resistant, this is a versatile full sun tree that's been commemorated as the State Tree of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its natural conical canopy requires no extra maintenance. Native to the Eastern United States, this easy-care tree is highly adaptable to many different types of soils. It even thrives in wet soil. Don't forget that this tree is also quite adaptable to the extremely hot and dry climates of zone 9 in the Western United States. Prune in late winter or early spring before it starts to grow, and it's important for this fast-growing tree to maintain a central leader and an open crown to allow wind to blow through it.

Give it plenty of room to reach its full size. There is nothing sadder than a magnificent Tulip Tree that wants to grow up straight and tall having to contort and bend in a too-crowded neighborhood. Plan ahead for the best results! Now, everyone wants to know how fast trees will grow, so you'll be pleased to know that this strong, hardy tree will grow up to 2 feet a year! Although it's a fast-growing tree, a bit of patience is needed before you start seeing the flowers develop. Because the leaves are large - measuring up to 5 inches long, they make yearly cleanup a snap!

  • Full Sun
  • Adaptable to Most Well-Drained Soils
  • Thrives in Well-Drained Moderately Moist Conditions
  • Disease & Pest Resistant
  • Prune Late Winter or Early Spring

For the discerning homeowner, this large shade tree really has it all - a great form all year-long, magnificent fragrant spring flowers, easy-breezy care requirements and knockout fall color. The Tulip Poplar is a North American treasure! For homeowners that require their plants to work hard to earn their place in the landscape, Tulip Poplar definitely delivers! Order today from NatureHills.com and get started growing your legacy "Liberty Tree" for your landscape!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Tulip Poplar a good tree?

Tulip Poplar trees are excellent shade trees with balanced growth and a symmetrical canopy. Featuring showy blooms and gorgeous foliage, these are lovely ornamental landscaping trees.

Is a Tulip Poplar a good tree

Tulip Poplar trees are excellent shade trees with balanced growth and a symmetrical canopy. Featuring showy blooms and gorgeous foliage, these are lovely ornamental landscaping trees.

Are Tulip Poplar trees messy?

Deciduous Tulip Poplar trees are not any more or less messy than other trees when they drop their leaves in the autumn. Their flowers do not cause a lot of mess.

Is Tulip Poplar tree invasive?

Tulip Poplar Trees are not invasive but do develop large root systems, so careful site selection when planting is important.

How fast does a Tulip Poplar tree grow?

Tulip Poplars have a medium growth rate and can add 12-24 inches of growth per year in optimal conditions.

What shipping options do you offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants, trees and shrubs. Find your Tulip Poplar for sale here at NatureHills.com!

Buying Options for Plants

Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.

Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!

Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.

  • Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
  • Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.

Nature Hills Container Size by Volume

Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.

Young Plants to 18 Months
Size Volume
2"x2"x3" Ranges from .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume
4.5" Container Equal to .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume
Sprinter Pot Equal to .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume
4" Container Ranges from .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume
6" Container Equal to 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume
1 Quart Equal to 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume
5.5" Container Equal to 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x5" Ranges from .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x6" Ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x9" Ranges from 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x10" Ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old
Size Volume
2 Quart Equal to 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume
#1 Container Ranges from 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume
5"x5"x12" Equal to 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old
Size Volume
#2 Container Ranges from 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume
#3 Container Ranges from 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old
Size Volume
#5 Container Ranges from 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume
#6 Container Ranges from 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume
#7 Container Ranges from 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume

About Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

Plant Sentry

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.
Color Zone Times
3 Spring 2019
4 Now
5 Now
6 Now
7 Now
8 Now
9 Now
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11 Now

Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
0 - 19.99 24.99
20 - 49.99 29.99
50 - 69.99 34.99
70 - 99.99 39.99
100 - 129.99 44.99
130 - 149.99 48.99
150 - 150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

Tulip Poplar Is Suited to Grow in Zones 4-9
Growing Zones 4-9
More Information
Brand Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name Liriodendron tulipifera
Type Deciduous
Mature Height 60 - 90 feet
Mature Spread 30 - 50 feet
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Widely Adaptable
Moisture Low to Average
Growth Rate Medium
Foliage Color Green
Fall Color Yellow
Pollinator Friendly Yes
Pruning Time After Flowering