| Scientific name | Liriodendron tulipifera |
|---|---|
| Common name(s) | Tulip poplar; tulip tree; yellow poplar; yellow-poplar; western poplar; canary whitewood; canoewood; lyre tree; North American whitewood; whitewood |
Top photo by S. Hartley at McKinney Lake in Southern Pines.
About This Tree
The tulip poplar is a distinctive tree that grows throughout Carvers Creek State Park in both the Long Valley Farm and Sandhills Access areas. Although known by such names as the tulip tree and yellow poplar, the tulip poplar is not a member of the tulip or poplar family at all; instead, it is part of the magnolia family. It grows easily throughout the East Coast, where it can be found along streams and lower upland slopes, wherever there are rich soils supporting mixed deciduous woods with plenty of sunlight.
To identify a tulip tree, look first at the shape of the leaves. The leaves are typically 2 to 5 inches wide and tall and have four major lobes (sometimes with two or more smaller points near the base of the leaf stem). The leaves flutter easily in any passing breeze, and in some areas, turn a bright yellow in the fall.
The tulip tree flower has four petals that are a deep orange at the base, fading to a pale yellow at the tips. While the upper parts of the flower are very bright and obvious, the tepals (outer parts of the flower, located at the base of the more colorful "cup") are light green, and can make it difficult to see the flowers from ground level. Often, you may not realize the tulip tree is flowering until a strong breeze sends a few flowers to the ground.
Tulip trees grow tall, well over 100 feet in the right conditions, and even as high as 200 feet, with a clear straight trunk and high canopy. Older trees can reach 10 to 12 feet in circumference, although smaller trees are more common.
An important source of lumber for furniture building, tulip trees are also a popular choice for carving. The wood tends to have a straight grain and holds finishes like paint and stain well. For the early Cherokee tribe, the tree had a number of uses, including using the trunks for canoes and the wood for building shelters. The bark, flowers and leaves were used for various medicinal purposes, including poultices for wounds, stomach and digestive problems and to reduce fever symptoms.
For those interested in wilderness and survival skills, the tulip tree can be a valuable resource. Young trees brought down by storms provide bark that can be used for making containers and knife sheaths. The inner bark of dead lower limbs, which are dropped by the tree as it grows, can be separated and worked into a fine tinder for fire starting. The inner bark is also good for cordage making, useful for making shelters or other routing tasks (that aren't so routine when you don't have string handy!). The limbs can be used for shelters, and the wood easily worked into spoons and bowls with the aid of some hot coals.
For our birds and animals, the tulip tree plays an important role. The seeds are eaten by the Carolina chickadee, purple finches, northern cardinals, and the goldfinch. Some of the animals that eat tulip tree seeds include the fox squirrel, gray squirrel, deer mouse, and white-footed mouse.
Visitor Tip
When exploring Long Valley Farm, look for a small grove of tulip trees behind the spring house and gazebo on the north side of the Rockefeller House, as well as several tulip trees around the Cypress Point Loop Trail. Remember: take only pictures and leave only footprints. Disturbing, picking, foraging, or removing anything goes against park rules and regulations. Enjoy the beauty and allow those after you to do the same!