Tulip tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip-shaped flowers high in the crown; bees know exactly where they are.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 80 ft tall, 40 ft wide
From: E. North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators, wildlife, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes. Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
The story
The tulip tree is the tallest hardwood in eastern North America and a member of the magnolia family, not a poplar, whatever the lumberyard says. Its straight trunks were hollowed into dugout canoes, which earned it the name canoewood.
Planting
Full sun and deep, moist, well-drained soil. Plant it young, in spring.
Growing
Water in dry summers; it drops leaves early when thirsty. It grows fast.
Harvest and use
Green-and-orange cups full of nectar in May and June, high in the crown. Beekeepers count on it for a dark, rich honey.
What to watch for
Brittle wood. Aphids drip sticky honeydew, so not over the car.
See if Tulip tree fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home