The tulip tree is one of the most popular ornamental trees in German front gardens. Did you know that the wood is even used to make toys?
The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) belongs to the magnolia family and is one of the two types of tulip trees. The deciduous tree can reach an impressive height of up to 40 meters. Some specimens even have heights of about 60 meters. The trunks can also have a considerable diameter of up to 1.5 meters. Young trees tend to have narrow and conical crowns. In older trees, the tree crown appears more arched, but still quite narrow. Tulip trees can get very old.
The oldest known specimen is in North America. "Queens Giant" is estimated to be more than 400 years old. The attractive deciduous tree with its eye-catching flowers reminiscent of tulips and the particularly intense autumn colors can also be found in many domestic ornamental gardens. The plant makes some demands. If the care instructions are followed, tulip trees will thrive and decorate large gardens and parks. The false tulip tree is an alternative for gardens with less space.
The distribution and use of the tulip tree
The original home of the tulip tree is in North America. The main distribution area is in the Appalachian Mountains. There the tulip tree occurs up to an altitude of almost 1,400 meters. The plant can also be found in Vermont, Michigan and Rhode Island. The attractive plant is considered a state tree in Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The tulip tree found its way to Europe via England in 1663. In the meantime, the plant has also become native to our latitudes and grows up to about 25 meters here. In its natural home, the tulip tree is not only an ornamental plant, its wood is used in many ways and is processed into veneers, doors, windows or shelves, among other things. The wood of the tulip tree is also important in the manufacture of musical instruments and toys.
When does the tulip tree bloom?
The flowering period of the tulip tree extends to the months of May and June. Then the tree with its yellow,striking flowers are a real eye-catcher. The flowers appear at the ends of the branches and initially appear cup-shaped. As they progress, they open into bells. In autumn, the flowers develop into fruits, which can contain one or two seeds.
Planting tulip trees - tips and advice at a glance
The location of the tulip tree should be carefully considered. It is not just a question of meeting the plant's requirements in terms of soil and liquid requirements, tulip trees do not want to be transplanted. Quite young plants may cope with the move, older trees would probably not survive a change of location. The best time to plant the tulip tree is late autumn to early spring.
» Tip: Small trees planted in March can grow well and prepare for the winter.
Location:
Tulip trees claim their location and do not want to be moved. It is therefore all the more important to find a suitable place for the woody plant and to bear in mind that the trees can reach impressive sizes and prefer to stand as a solitary plant without being in the immediate vicinity of other plants.
The tulip tree needs a bright and sunny location. The plant should be sheltered from the wind and not be restricted in its growth by other plants. The roots need to be able to expand, so planting directly near house walls is less suitable.
In short:
- light
- sunny
- wind protected
- detached
Floor:
A loose and permeable soil should be chosen for the tulip tree. A soil that is too firm will restrict the tree's ability to grow and bloom. Since the water in a solid soil has difficulty penetrating to the roots, the plant is generally inhibited in its development. In order to meet the needs of the plant, the soil can be prepared accordingly. Before planting, the soil should therefore be loosened and enriched with compost or humus.
In short form:
- loose
- permeable
- nutrient rich
» Attention: A plus in nutrients allows the tulip tree to thrive. However, the plant does not tolerate calcareous soil.
Planting Instructions:
❶ Put the plant in a bucket of water and let the root ball soak up
❷ choose a suitable location
❸ make sure there is enough space
❹ planting hole twice the size of theDigging out the root ball
❺ Inserting the plant
❻ Protecting the roots
❼ Pressing the soil down gently
❽ Watering young plants sufficiently
How to care for the tulip tree
❍ casting:
The plants have a high water requirement. Nevertheless, some tact is required when watering the tulip tree. The soil around the plant must not dry out. It is also important to avoid waterlogging when watering. In any case, young plants should be watered regularly. Older trees that have already grown well should be watered according to the weather. On hot days, a soil check shows whether it needs to be watered. If the plants drop their leaves, this can also indicate a lack of water.
❍ Fertilize:
The tulip tree has a high nutrient consumption in all its growth stages. Fertilization is therefore recommended in any case. Rhododendron fertilizer is very suitable for this. Alternatively, you can also use fertilizers that have a fairly high phosphorus content and have a slightly acidic effect on the soil. The amount depends on the size of the plant and the prevailing soil quality. Please note the information provided by the manufacturer.
» Tip: Tulip trees should only be fertilized during the growth phase. During the hibernation, the roots cannot absorb the nutrients.
❍ Pruning:
The plant is sensitive when cut back. The tulip tree reacts particularly sensitively to a radical pruning. In order to protect the plant, it should be pruned carefully. In spring, a carefully executed topiary is advisable. Be careful not to remove too much branching. There should be no hesitation in the case of dead branches or faded inflorescences. These parts of the plant must be removed immediately. The same applies to parts of the tulip tree that are diseased or infested with pests.
» Tip: Sharp and high-quality garden tools protect the plant.
❍ Pests and Diseases:
Tulip trees are now very well adapted to our climate and are robust and resilient. Pests or fungal infestation are not an issue if the requirements for location and substrate are met.
An occasional infestation of aphids has been observed. The pests are easy to spot on the plant and can be collected in good time or driven away with household remedies such as soapy water or nettle broth. For the tulip tree, infestation with pests is generally not a problemproblem and the plant will not be harmed.
The following damage patterns can become noticeable through care errors:
- Discoloration of the leaves
- Withering Leaves
- Shedding the Leaves
- Rooting
A change in the leaves should wake up every hobby gardener, because there is usually a gross care mistake. If the leaves and flowers change color, it has been watered too little. If you don't intervene here, you have to expect that the tree will drop its leaves. A soil that is too firm and too much watering quickly leads to waterlogging, which the tree cannot tolerate at all. The roots begin to rot, the plant lags behind in growth, and the leaves eventually fall off as well. Remove affected shoots and flowers.
Help, brown spots
If the leaves and flowers of the tulip tree turn brown, there can be several reasons. If water shortage can be ruled out, soil contamination should be considered. If the soil contains too much s alt, the location for the tulip tree is definitely unsuitable and the plant should be moved, even if this should actually be avoided with the tulip tree.
» Tip: Occasionally, the tulip tree can also be attacked by leaf spot disease. On the other hand, a regularly administered copper sulphate solution helps.
❍ Propagation:
Propagating the tulip tree is not an easy task. If you want to take up the challenge, you can try to propagate the plant from seeds or cuttings.
Propagation by Seeds
The seeds can be obtained from the fruit of the tulip tree. Keep the strongest of the seeds until September and then gradually start growing them:
❶ Place seeds in potting soil
❷ Cover seeds lightly with substrate
❸ Use soft water for watering
❹ Place plant pots on the window sill at room temperature
❺ Let the plants grow to about ten centimeters
❻ Prick out the plants and get used to the normal ambient temperature
❼ Planting outdoors is only recommended after the shoots have become woody
Propagation by cuttings
❶ Cuttings can be obtained by selecting appropriate shoots from the annual cuttings in spring and using them as follows:
❷ Plant the cuttings in potting soil
❸ Water with soft water❹ Cover the plant pot with foil
❺ Cultivation in a greenhouse advisable
❻ Cultivation at temperatures around 25 degrees
❼ Soil evenly moisthold
If new shoots and flowers appear, successful cultivation can be assumed. Experience has shown that it takes a long time for the tulip tree to form a root ball.
❍ Hibernate:
The tulip tree is hardy and withstands severe frosts. Young plants, on the other hand, are even less robust and should receive winter protection in the first few years. A covering of leaves or a layer of mulch helps the young tulip trees through the winter.
Tulip magnolias are particularly susceptible to late frosts. These can damage the flowers that sprout quite early and lead to the death of the first flowers. If a protection made of garden fleece is attached, the fake tulip trees are also well protected from late frosts.
General care tips for the tulip tree
- Choose location carefully
- Do not transfer plant
- lots of sun
- vacant location
- loose, nutrient-rich soil
- Water when the soil is dry
- Avoid waterlogging
- Provide with rhododendron fertilizer in spring and summer
What types of tulip trees are there?
First of all, a rough subdivision into real and fake tulip trees can be made.
The following overview shows the further differentiation into the individual subspecies:
| Tulip tree species | Features |
|---|---|
| Real Tulip Trees: Chinese Tulip Tree African Tulip Tree American Tulip Tree | ❍ Green-yellow flowers, shaded orange ❍ Height of growth up to 18 metres ❍ Small, up to eight meters tall ❍ Early flowering, red flowers ❍ Plant height up to 40 meters |
| Fake Tulip Tree: Magnolia Tulip Tree | ❍ growth height up to eight meters ❍ white to pink flowers |
While the individual species can be distinguished in terms of growth height and flower colour, the jagged shape of the leaves, reminiscent of maple leaves, is common to all types of tulip trees.
Due to its low growth height, the tulip magnolia is quite common in gardens. With a targeted pruning, the fake tulip tree can be formed into a compact shrub, which also finds its place in quite small gardens. The Tulip Magnolia is characterized by lush and early flowering.