These trees can grow in dense woods. They shouldn't have any problem with competition. They are quite competitive themselves and grow tall very quickly. Just put them in a sunny location. They are beautiful stately trees, but can get messy or snap in very severe weather. Plant it as far away from the house as you can so that it looks good. Good luck! it is a great tree and once they get old enough to bloom you'll be happy.

I've got one and it is about 90' tall now, and is only 15 wide, but it is between 2 pine trees, and I had one that was in the open, and it was about 30' tall and 20' wide, so size depends on the growing conditions, the roots are not too much of a problem because they usually don't travel far. It does grow very fast, my neighbor had one to sprout 4 years ago, and it is now about 35' tall, and the tree is carefree, plant it in a well drained spot and when it gets established, it will be ready to grow. I noticed that some of them wants to get wide while others want to get taller, if they want to get tall than they are usually narrow, and if they want to be shorter, than they usually get wider. I wouldn't plant too close to the house, because of its width, but most of them stays at about 15'-25' wide, they are native in my region, and most of them around here gets tall, and not really wide, usually never over 25' wide, but occasionally they get wider but not often, but your climate will also have an effect on them, and since you are in a warm zone for them they will probably not get really big, in hight or width. It is hardy in zones 4-9, and it should make it in your zone, it will probably get flowers in 1-2 years, and its flowers are pretty, bright orange, and a light green, and its fall color is one of the brightest yellow trees in fall, it is beautiful all year long.
Lee

I would not plant one unless I had a HUGE amount of property. We just had an 80-foot tree removed. It was too close to the house. Cost a mint!

The minimum should be 35 - 40 feet.

Dax

Just wanted to add that if you have neighbors on the other side of your fence and you end up planting the tree near their fence, they may not appreciate your decision to grow a huge tree that might shade their otherwise sunny yard. This scenario is probably not true in your case, but just thought I'd throw it out there. When saplings are small they look so innocuous.

I absolutely love these trees, but I can never seem to find them available. Does anyone have seedlings they might like to trade? I have some Kentucky coffee tree seedlings that are about six inches now that I can trade. If anyone knows where I could get viable seed for a tree propagating program I run, that would be wonderful. I traded for some seed a couple years ago, but none were viable. I hear they have very low viability.
Many Thanks,
Werner J Stiegler

The Tulips need a 2nd tree to set seed. They are a lovely tree with their interesting leaves and early flowers.

If you are growing from seed, give it a while. I picked up some seed pods at Jamestown VA, which took 2 years to sprout. I potted up the seeds, put the pot outside set into the dirt of garden. Actually I forgot about them! Sure was a surprise when I found the leaves in my nursery area!! However those with tulip trees in their yards, ALWAYS seem to have a ton of sprouts coming up. Maybe they are from OLD seeds??

You might check around locally, in parks, memorial gardens, cemetaries, for Tulip trees. Our Michigan State College has an abundance of tree and shrub varieties on the grounds. Such places probably would not mind if you picked up some seeds while you walked by.

Actually Tulip trees have perfect flowers, meaning they can self pollinate having both male and female parts in the same flower.

For Tulip Trees, heavy seed crops tend to compensate for low seed viability (around 5-20 percent).
The samaras are wind dispersed to distances 4 and 5 times the height of the parent tree. Seeds require a cold stratification period, and germination rates vary with time and temperature. Under controlled conditions, stratification in moist sand within a temperature range of 32° to 50° F for periods of 70 to 90 days resulted in satisfactory germination. However, seedling yield increases with increasing time of stratification. Generally as temperature decreases and time increases the germination rate increases; for example, 90 percent germination occurred after 140 days at 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination is epigeal and occurs when seeds remain constantly moist for several weeks. Seed Germination and seedling development is enhanced on mineral soil or on well-decomposed humus than on a thick, undecomposed litter layer. Germinating yellow-poplar seedlings need a suitable seedbed and adequate moisture to survive and become established.

After germination, several critical years follow. During this period sufficient soil moisture must be available, good drainage and protection against drying and frost heaving are necessary, and there must be no severe competition from nearby sprout growth. In a study in which various mulches were used to induce soil temperature variation, seedlings grew faster in warm soil than in cool soil. Soil temperatures as high as 97° F had a beneficial effect on seedling growth.

There are a few things that you CAN buy from Direct Gardening. Tulip populars are one.

Two for two dollars.

A good price and mine arrived 3 feet tall, nice and straight and are doing fine.

Terry

Here is a link that might be useful: Two for two dollars

Tulips!!!! They are one of my favorite trees! I think they are beautiful, elegant and NATIVE (YAY) to the eastern US!! You can find additional info on: plants.usda.gov. Type in Liriodendron tulipifera. They say it can get to 120 ft.

Where I grew up, there was one in our neighbor's yard. It was gigantic- Taller than a 5 floor apt building and taller than the very old red & white oaks next to our house and it was on land that was about 30 feet below our yard. (Yonkers NY has alot of hills). It was tall straight and over 250 years old when it was cut down. (We tried to count the rings but lost count after 250).

We don't do anything to propagate our tulip trees. They are wild on our property, seem to love the northern end of our pond, although I have found them in the front garden too. I seem to remember reading they like lowlands (?)
Mr Stiegler, we have LOTS of tulip trees on our property( none as old as the one by my childhood home, tho! ) if you want some... babies, toddlers... they pop up everywhere.

toobusy2sleep,
I see that you are in dutchess county. I live in the Town of Beekman. I am away at school in Binghamton, but I will be home for a dental appointment next wednesday May 7th. If you have any saplings to spare, that would be simply wonderful. I could even stop by and pick them up. Is there anything you might be interested in as a trade?
Many thanks,
Werner J Stiegler

Nice to see the widespread appreciation of one of the most magnificent tree that ever set roots on this continent.

I planted a Tulip Poplar Tree about 2 years ago. How long does it take to bloom?

They produce their first flowers at 15 to 20 years of age (thats starting from seed), you can subtract how old you think the tree is to find out how many more years. Every 1 to 2 foot in height of a small seddling is about 1 year. After about 5 years of establishment they can grow 2 to 5 feet a year in their sapling stage (in perfect conditions possibly even 6 or 7).

Mr Steigler, sorry for not responding sooner... but you may come by on May 7th. I am in Town of Dover /next to Pawling. I will be here all day, I think. my email is alb7@optimum.net . Let me know when you might be able to come by. I have noticed several young Tulips that picked weird spots to sprout.
I don't mind a trade for any interesting plant that does not need TOOO much TLC! LOL

Magnificent, yes - but the blossoms (which are indeed lovely) drop off and make a mess (volunteers in the garden every year), limbs can easily fall off (especially in the winter), and the whole, enormous thing can fall over. I guess what I'm saying is, great tree, but IMHO not suitable near a house (or other structure), patio, or neighbors. All of this (except the falling over completely) is from personal experience.