Liriodendron tulipifera

Liriodendron blooms in spring

El Liriodendron tulipifera It is a tree with large leaves and flowers., perhaps not as much as that of other plants, but we are talking about a species that casts a lot of shade and that in spring, when it flowers, is wonderful.

However, it is not a tree that can be grown in any climate or garden, since it needs a large piece of land where it can grow, and also, it is necessary that the seasons are well differentiated.

Where it is?

The liriodendron is a big tree

Image – Wikimedia/Warburg1866

The origin of Liriodendron tulipifera It is found in eastern North America. It lives from southern Ontario (Canada) and reaches Florida (United States). It is common in the Appalachian mountains, where it forms forests in which there may be specimens that exceed 30 meters in height.

In addition, it must be said that it is a fast-growing deciduous tree, something that is undoubtedly very interesting to know if you would like to have a specimen of a certain size in a few years.

What are their characteristics?

It is a deciduous tree that reaches an approximate height of between 18 and 25 meters approximately., although in its natural habitat it can exceed them and reach 50 meters. The trunk is straight, with brown bark, and branches several meters above the ground. The leaves are alternate and simple, and are about 15 centimeters long; during the autumn they are yellow before falling.

Regarding the flowers, they are solitary, they are about 5 centimeters long, and they are yellowish green. sprout in spring, usually after the leaves do. Once they are pollinated, the fruit ripens in autumn, which is a brown cone with winged seeds.

What other names does it receive?

The flowers of the Liriodendron tulipifera look like tulips

Image - Wikimedia / Dcrjsr

As often happens, the scientific name of the plants is the least used, and in the case of our protagonist the same thing happens. In fact, it is popularly known by these names:

  • tulip tree
  • tulip tree
  • Virginia tulip tree
  • Virginia tulip tree
  • tulip tree magnolia
  • american tulip tree

For what do you use it?

It has several uses. Undoubtedly the one that interests us the most is the ornamental. It grows fast, gives a lot of shade, and also produces flowers that are easy to see. If it is planted in the right place, such as a large garden and away from the house, it will look spectacular. Now, you also have to know that it is a plant that "takes care" of bees. If he Liriodendron tulipifera it is a melliferous species.

In addition, wood It is used to make furniture, cabinets, carriages, or canoes. It is soft and easy to work with; in fact, Native Americans built their canoes out of it.

What are your needs?

The Liriodendron tulipifera is a deciduous tree

Image – Wikimedia/Unai.mdldm

It is a tree that should be planted as soon as possible in the ground, since as we said it is quite large and cannot be in a pot for a long time. But in addition to that, you have to know what your needs are so that you do not have problems:

Location

Of course, you have to place it outside the house, but where? It will be important that it is in an area exposed to the sun during all or part of the day, and that it is also planted about ten meters (more or less) from the place where you have pipes or paved floors. Of course, it should be as far away from the pool as possible, since the chlorine in the water would damage its leaves; and also of other large trees such as Ficus or Pinus, since their roots would come to compete for the available resources and, in the end, it would end up noticing that one or some of them grow more than the others.

Earth

The soil in which it will grow must be deep, and have a low pH (ie it must be acidic). If you are going to keep it in a pot during its first years of life, you have to plant it in one with a substrate for acidic plants, since it has all the nutrients it needs, apart from the proper pH.

Irrigation

Irrigation should be moderate, since its roots do not resist excess water, but neither could we say that it is a "irrigated tree". That is why, depending on which areas, such as in the Mediterranean region, for example, where rainfall is scarce for several months, it will not survive on its own unless it is watered.

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You can pay to Liriodendron tulipifera during the spring and summer months. For it use liquid fertilizers if you have it in a pot, or powder or granules if you have it in the garden. It is also highly recommended to bet on the Organic fertilizers and not so much because of the fertilizers, since as we said, its flowers are visited by bees, and it is important to keep them safe.

Rusticity

The Liriodendron tulipifera looks pretty in winter

Image – Wikimedia/B137

It withstands frost and snowfall very well. In fact, resists up to -18ºC. But if we talk about maximum temperatures, these should not exceed 30ºC since otherwise it would suffer damage.

What did you think of the Liriodendron tulipifera?


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