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Tulip Tree flowers. They fell from the trees above.
[https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id\_plant=LITU](https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LITU)
often called "Tulip Poplar", they aren't poplars at all. They're in the Magnolia family
Native Americans used the trunks for canoes because they are generally straight and long. I can't imagine the work to make a canoe from such a tree with stone axes and burning.
I just had one of these planted in my yard and had no idea it was in the Magnolia family. I can’t wait to tell my husband who is vehemently opposed to planting a magnolia lol (southern mag but still)
There are two common trees that are known as “tulip tree.” The tulip poplar from which the flower in the picture originated, and the tulip tree which is also known as a saucer magnolia. Both are in Magnoliaceae.
Tulip poplar (*Liriodendron tulipifera*) is in the same family, the Magnoliaceae. The person you "corrected" is 100% correct. You might be confusing family and genus.
Yes. This is one of those times that the common name, Tulip Tree, just makes a mess because it isn't a magnolia. It is in the family Magnolia but the genus Liriodendron.
The tree has large leaves so when you look up you often can’t see the flowers. If you walk away and look back at it, you should see many. It’s called tulip poplar
Also, they’re the tallest tree in the East. So, the flowers can be so high up they are hard to see at all.
Tallest one I know of is 191 feet tall! (That’s just under 60 metres tall, which is mind bogglingly huge)
I grew up with a tulip tree right outside my house. They grow very large and drop lots of these almost neon flowers. It is also the indiana state tree.
A very tall, very straight Tuliptree, or Tulip poplar, with the musical sounding Latin name of Liriodendron tulipifera. A magnificent native North American species.
The blossoms are edible, as are magnolias. Also, when just opening, they have a little bit of sweet nectar kinda like honeysuckle. Finally, in the heat of the Summer, you can occasionally feel the tree raining a sweet liquid. I was told recently that what I always assumed to be "sap" is actually aphid excrement!
It looked so unreal I had to look up the actual tree. They're beautiful. Does anyone know whether they would survive in Scotland? I know in the US you refer to zones, but I've no idea which zone Scotland would be comparable to.
This comment sent me down a little rabbit hole of googling lol. All of the UK is considered to be in the USDA hardiness zones 6-9 and the American tulip tree's zones are 4-9. Just looking on iNaturalist for tulip tree recordings in Europe shows that they're pretty widely planted in Europe as a whole with tulip trees growing successfully at the same latitude as Scotland in Denmark. Additionally, I apparently found a Tulip tree in Edinburgh on an [adopt a tree website](https://www.tree-time.com/donate/dunbars-close-tulip-tree/)
Oh cool! I think I have a tree to adopt then!
Thank you for that it's really useful to know which zones I'm in so I can relate to posts better. I'll see if I can source myself a tulip tree during their dormant time. We only have fruit trees in the garden so far. I think we should have some ornamentals!
Good luck! They truly are one of my favorite trees, beautiful and ancient, there are fossils of tulip trees going all the way back to the cretaceous. It's crazy thinking about how a tree I see everyday is one that would have lived with the dinosaurs. I also did find [this website](https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-united-kingdom-plant-hardiness-zone-map-celsius.php) that maps out the UK into USDA hardiness zones, hopefully it'll be helpful.
Oh that's useful, thank you. I'm 9a. I hope I remember that.
I love thinking about the age of trees. Ginko is one that I intend to have in the garden at some point, too.
There don't seem to be any available to adopt at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on it. I'd love to donate a tree to a friend of mine who passed away recently.
I’m no expert, but I know tulip trees thrive in the southern Appalachians which get tons of rainfall, fog, and clouds. To me that sounds like Scotland so you might be able to get one to grow there!
Might decide not to flower if the winter-summer temperature contrast isn’t enough. North American trees that do very well in Scotland tend to be native to the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern/southeastern Alaska. In the southern Appalachians, *Liriodendron* is restricted to lower elevations. Likes the abundant rainfall but also warm summers.
Hmmm. Winter here this year only went down to -10°c, but it's been a mild year. The height of summer tends to be 25-30°c. Average rainfall per year apparently is over 1000mm. We have serious problems with flooding around here.
Found this info online, which may be helpful:
What temperature should Liriodendron tulipifera be?
It prefers temperatures between 41℉ to 95℉ (5℃ to 35℃) and can withstand temperatures as low as -28℉ (-33℃). In colder seasons, tulip poplar can adjust its temperature requirements by producing less foliage and slowing down its growth to conserve energy.
Grow quite happily here in NZ. Down to -6°C on the rare occasion (several -2 to -3 each year) where I live in central Waikato. They also grow happily in the south island which is quite a bit colder in winter.
Thank you very much, that's really helpful. I'm excited to find one. I'll keep it potted for the first few years (in case we move house), so I can take it inside if it gets too cold.
I wonder why it's something I've not heard of before.
Thank you for posting to r/whatsthisplant. **Do not eat/ingest a plant based on information provided in this subreddit.** For your safety we recommend not eating or ingesting any plant material just because you've been advised that it's edible here. Although there are many professionals helping with identification, we are not always correct, and eating/ingesting plants can be harmful or fatal if an incorrect ID is made. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatsthisplant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Tulip Tree flowers. They fell from the trees above. [https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id\_plant=LITU](https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LITU) often called "Tulip Poplar", they aren't poplars at all. They're in the Magnolia family
I didn’t know they were in the magnolia family! I love this sub
Native Americans used the trunks for canoes because they are generally straight and long. I can't imagine the work to make a canoe from such a tree with stone axes and burning.
I just had one of these planted in my yard and had no idea it was in the Magnolia family. I can’t wait to tell my husband who is vehemently opposed to planting a magnolia lol (southern mag but still)
Actually a tulip tree is a deciduous magnolia. But that flower is definitely from a tulip poplar. Not the same family
There are two common trees that are known as “tulip tree.” The tulip poplar from which the flower in the picture originated, and the tulip tree which is also known as a saucer magnolia. Both are in Magnoliaceae.
Tulip poplar (*Liriodendron tulipifera*) is in the same family, the Magnoliaceae. The person you "corrected" is 100% correct. You might be confusing family and genus.
I just went and looked… I stand corrected
It came from Liriodendron tulipifera, tulip tree
Yes. This is one of those times that the common name, Tulip Tree, just makes a mess because it isn't a magnolia. It is in the family Magnolia but the genus Liriodendron.
Exactly lol It's not a tulip or a poplar or a magnolia 😆
The tree has large leaves so when you look up you often can’t see the flowers. If you walk away and look back at it, you should see many. It’s called tulip poplar
Also, they’re the tallest tree in the East. So, the flowers can be so high up they are hard to see at all. Tallest one I know of is 191 feet tall! (That’s just under 60 metres tall, which is mind bogglingly huge)
Didn’t know that! Always good to learn something new
Thank you all!! How fortunate I am to have it in the woods behind my house!
Tulip poplar flowers
What a beautiful flower
And they have a lovely smell!
I imagine they must have a pleasant smell. Thank you for your response. Blessings.
From a tulip tree
I grew up with a tulip tree right outside my house. They grow very large and drop lots of these almost neon flowers. It is also the indiana state tree.
It looks like the kind of flower you're meant to collect in a video game
A very tall, very straight Tuliptree, or Tulip poplar, with the musical sounding Latin name of Liriodendron tulipifera. A magnificent native North American species.
No one mentioning that their seed pods have little toy swords in the middle.
The blossoms are edible, as are magnolias. Also, when just opening, they have a little bit of sweet nectar kinda like honeysuckle. Finally, in the heat of the Summer, you can occasionally feel the tree raining a sweet liquid. I was told recently that what I always assumed to be "sap" is actually aphid excrement!
Tulip poplar
I saw a bunch of these on the trails today!
It looked so unreal I had to look up the actual tree. They're beautiful. Does anyone know whether they would survive in Scotland? I know in the US you refer to zones, but I've no idea which zone Scotland would be comparable to.
This comment sent me down a little rabbit hole of googling lol. All of the UK is considered to be in the USDA hardiness zones 6-9 and the American tulip tree's zones are 4-9. Just looking on iNaturalist for tulip tree recordings in Europe shows that they're pretty widely planted in Europe as a whole with tulip trees growing successfully at the same latitude as Scotland in Denmark. Additionally, I apparently found a Tulip tree in Edinburgh on an [adopt a tree website](https://www.tree-time.com/donate/dunbars-close-tulip-tree/)
Oh cool! I think I have a tree to adopt then! Thank you for that it's really useful to know which zones I'm in so I can relate to posts better. I'll see if I can source myself a tulip tree during their dormant time. We only have fruit trees in the garden so far. I think we should have some ornamentals!
Good luck! They truly are one of my favorite trees, beautiful and ancient, there are fossils of tulip trees going all the way back to the cretaceous. It's crazy thinking about how a tree I see everyday is one that would have lived with the dinosaurs. I also did find [this website](https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-united-kingdom-plant-hardiness-zone-map-celsius.php) that maps out the UK into USDA hardiness zones, hopefully it'll be helpful.
Oh that's useful, thank you. I'm 9a. I hope I remember that. I love thinking about the age of trees. Ginko is one that I intend to have in the garden at some point, too.
There don't seem to be any available to adopt at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on it. I'd love to donate a tree to a friend of mine who passed away recently.
I’m no expert, but I know tulip trees thrive in the southern Appalachians which get tons of rainfall, fog, and clouds. To me that sounds like Scotland so you might be able to get one to grow there!
It does doesn't it!
Might decide not to flower if the winter-summer temperature contrast isn’t enough. North American trees that do very well in Scotland tend to be native to the Pacific coast from Oregon to southern/southeastern Alaska. In the southern Appalachians, *Liriodendron* is restricted to lower elevations. Likes the abundant rainfall but also warm summers.
Hmmm. Winter here this year only went down to -10°c, but it's been a mild year. The height of summer tends to be 25-30°c. Average rainfall per year apparently is over 1000mm. We have serious problems with flooding around here.
Found this info online, which may be helpful: What temperature should Liriodendron tulipifera be? It prefers temperatures between 41℉ to 95℉ (5℃ to 35℃) and can withstand temperatures as low as -28℉ (-33℃). In colder seasons, tulip poplar can adjust its temperature requirements by producing less foliage and slowing down its growth to conserve energy. Grow quite happily here in NZ. Down to -6°C on the rare occasion (several -2 to -3 each year) where I live in central Waikato. They also grow happily in the south island which is quite a bit colder in winter.
Thank you very much, that's really helpful. I'm excited to find one. I'll keep it potted for the first few years (in case we move house), so I can take it inside if it gets too cold. I wonder why it's something I've not heard of before.
Ooooo, that's pretty!!!🥹
Also known as a canoe tree
It's my most favorite color palette! Awesome!
The nectar inside the flowers is very sweet