Tulip Tree

12 years ago

Has anyone seen specimens of the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in New Mexico, especially in and around the Albuquerque area? I've seen Magnolias here, but not the Tulip tree.

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Comments (3)

fabaceae_native
12 years ago
No, unfortunately I have never seen a tulip tree here, but I have been looking, as I'm from the East Coast, where they are one of my favorite forest trees, growing fast, straight, tall and massive, with their beautiful flowers and seed capsules to boot.

I seem to remember having read that they need very deep, fertile, slightly acidic soil, which might make them difficult to grow here. Then again, if many of the maples, sweetgum, magnolia, and others can make it, maybe it's just a question of trying it out.

Keep us posted regarding the search for this tree in NM!
rdr115
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks. I'm from NYC myself, hence my interest, too. It's a member of the Magnolia family, and you see some of those around here, so maybe there's hope. I'm looking for a nursery.
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i went to your link.. highlighted the two names to google.. and added 'annual growth rate'... and came up with the pdf link.. go to page 18 ... wherein it states that the size claimed is at 30 years ... convert to inches.. divide by 30 ... and you have its annual growth rate ... and can make predictions on such.. of course.. you can divide 50 feet by 30 years.. and ballpark it to what.. 16 inches???? TPops are not the best small yard trees.. rather surface rooted.. and rather weak wood .... the flower show is cool for about a week ... if they dont get frosted out .. until they are all up 20 feet or so ... which is two years after they start flowering.. lol there are some great variegated ones.. which i wish i could find cheap ... that way you get a short flower show.. and cool leaves for the rest of the year ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link
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My two cents on a 6 year old thread... Northern seed source for Tulip Tree is critical if you want a healthy vigorous tree in zone 5 or colder. After two conversations I had with landscape professionals (urban forester & retail nursery owner/landscaper) in southern Ontario, they shared that a few wholesalers are bringing up B&B Tulip Trees from growers in North Carolina (cheaper than locally grown). They discovered this after investigating why their Tulip Trees planted in the last ~5-7 years were not as robust (low vigor, winterkill, sudden death) relative to the native wild Tulip Trees. Performance of the southern trees was not so bad that the wholesalers would stop importing but poor enough that the perfectly hardy Tulip Tree is getting a reputation as 'borderline'.
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Example in last photo has the mature habit, one asked about looks like it is still in the youthful, conical, height building phase. (Which it would be at only 20' tall, unless on a site that had very stunting conditions). Where a dominant central leader that persists long enough will be needed for it to produce an elevated crown with a single trunk of some length beneath it. Or running up some distance through the center of a low branching crown. The classic manual The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers by George E. Brown (Second Edition 2004, Tony Kirkham. Timber Press, Portland) says (among other things) about Liriodendron The best form to grow this is with a strong central leader and Specimens that are left to branch low without a central leader, reach a stage when each limb carries considerable weight and weakness may develop in a crotch with disastrous results
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These things take time. Once the problems of a buried root flare are alleviated, the tree will begin the slow process of building a good root system and that can take a season or two for that to happen. So, you might be seeing some of the same symptoms for a week or so before things stabilize and the slow transition to a healthy plant begins. I wouldn't keep dumping fertilizers on as a small tree's nutrient requirements aren't that high and unless there is a real deficit in soil nutrients, you've most likely given the tree all it can stand for now. Too much is worse than too little when it comes to fertilizer. I've used miracle grow in the early season to help plants leaf out and get growing but it can take a week or two to start seeing results which is then mainly leaf production. And don't fertilize past middle of August. That might cause to tree to produce new growth that won't have time to harden off before cold weather arrives. You've done all you can, now it's just a matter of patience. And don't be surprised if the tree dies, that can happen to the best of us. Don't ask me how I know. ;-)
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fabaceae_native
12 years ago
I still don't know of a local source, but I checked out the Dave's Garden website to see if any are being grown nearby. Tulip tree apparently does well in the hot central valley of CA, as well as arid western CO, also the plains states of OK and KS, and intermountain regions of ID and MT. Based on this, I would say there is hope for some areas of NM, especially on deep soils where other broadleaved trees thrive.

BUT, you would not get the super fast growth and giant size for which the species is known... for that, the cottonwood is still king in this part of the world.

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Tulip Tree

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fabaceae_native

rdr115
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Tulip Tree

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rdr115Original Author

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rdr115
Original Author