Tulip poplars, Liriodenron tulipifera, and tulip magnolias, Magnolia soulangeana and similar cultivars, are members of the magnoliaceae family. Neither tree is at its best when crowded, nor are some of the cultivars tidy trees. Nevertheless, many gardeners find their ethereal beauty worth the trouble. Tulip magnolias bloom in early spring, while Liriodendron blooms from spring into summer.
Tulip poplar
Also called the tuliptree, the yellow poplar has notched four-lobed leaves on long stems. Leaves are bright green on top and pale below, becoming a showy yellow-gold in fall. The tulip-shaped flowers appear on the ends of branches after the leaves are open, often only in the top of the tree. Flowers have four yellow-green tepals, undifferentiated petals and sepals, with an orange blush at the base developing a tall central fruit.
Tulip poplars are native to the southeast United States, where they grow to 120 feet or more, with a straight trunk as much as six feet around and a pyramidal crown. The subtly striped gray brown bark becomes furrowed with age.
These trees can drop their lower branches as they age. In fact, they may drop branches at any life stage. They also litter, beginning in spring. They dislike extreme heat, but also dislike damp. They are prone to aphids, because of the abundant nectar of the flowers. Tulip tree scale may also be a problem, as well as leaf spot. They are said to take seven years to bloom, though some bloom earlier. Most varieties are far too large for small yards.
On the other hand, the trees feed honeybees, who produce a thick dark honey from their nectar. They also serve as hosts for the larva of the swallowtail butterfly. The flowers are delightful, as are the autumn leaves.
Tulip magnolia
The term tulip magnolia is used for several trees. The Magnolia lilliiflora is a shrub or small tree from southwest China, cultivated for centuries. It’s also called the woody orchid or the purple magnolia, for its fragrant purple to pink flowers with white interiors. Because the shrubs bloom early in spring, they are seldom planted where there is frost.
The Magnolia soulangeana, also called the saucer magnolia, bears large cup and saucer shaped blooms before the leaves open. A hybrid of the M. liliiflora and the M. denudata, which bears pure white blooms before the leaves open, it grow to about 25 feet tall. Blossoms may be white, pink, purple, or mauve depending on cultivar. The bark is silver-gray, and the long, pointed leaves are dark green, turning yellow-brown in fall.
Star magnolia, Magnolia stellata, is native to Japan. It also blooms before the leaves open. The flowers are white to pale pink, with long floppy petals. Medium green oval leaves turn rusty gold in fall, though some cultivars are said to stay green.
Tulip magnolias like rich moist loam, and a protected location. Late frosts will not generally kill the tree, but will ruin the blooms. Once established, according to the Magnolia Society, they require a minimum of care.
