Liriodendron tulipifera
American Tuliptree · Bois-jaune · Canary Whitewood · Tuliptree
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- treePlants of the World Online
- Habit
- Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
- Height
- 80-120 ft24-37 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Spread
- 30-60 ft9-18 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Flower
- Gold/Yellow, Green, OrangeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Blooms
- Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Native range
- Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
- Hardiness zones
- 4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Soil
- Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Soil pH
- Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Moisture
- Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Watering
- Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.
Worth knowing
- One of the tallest eastern hardwoods, up to about 150 feet. Its tulip-like flowers are easy to miss, often 50 feet or more up in the crown. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Liriodendron tulipifera
- Pioneers hollowed a single trunk into a long, light canoe. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Liriodendron tulipifera
- Caterpillars of the eastern tiger swallowtail and the tuliptree silkmoth feed on it. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Liriodendron tulipifera
Protocol
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996Difficulty Very high
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
2 germinated in this phase.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
4% germination.
How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.
Germination trials
Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials
No trials shared for this species yet.