Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
- Small mammals
The flowers feed bees and hummingbirds, the leaves host eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillars, and songbirds and squirrels eat the seeds.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–9
- Grows 60–90 ft
$11.95
No reviews yet. Be the first to reviewThe quick answer
Tulip tree is a fast-growing native shade tree for USDA zones 4-9 that reaches 60-90 ft tall and 30-50 ft wide in full sun to part shade. Buy it for quick height, golden fall color and tulip-shaped yellow-orange flowers that feed bees, hummingbirds and swallowtail butterflies. It needs room and steady moisture.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Tulip Tree plant profile
Mature size60–90 ft tall · 30–50 ft wide
Typical (60 ft)Up to 90 ft
Straight trunk with an upright, oval to pyramidal crown.
USDA hardiness zones4–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Grows in full sun to partial shade.
SoilpH 5.0–7.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers deep, moist, well-drained soil; dislikes drought, salt and salty soils.
Native to the USGolden yellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
Tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers with an orange band bloom in late May to June, followed by upright, cone-like clusters of winged seeds.
Leaves & fall color
Golden yellow in fall. Distinctive four-lobed, tulip-outline leaves are bright green in summer and turn golden yellow in fall.
Pests & disease
Aphids and scale can leave sticky honeydew and sooty mold; verticillium wilt and canker occur, and the wood breaks in ice storms.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove dead or broken limbs; young trees benefit from training to one strong leader.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Tulip Tree
SPRINGUnusual four-lobed leaves unfold
SUMMERTulip-shaped yellow-green and orange flowers in late May to June
LATE SUMMERCone-like seed clusters form; keep watered in dry spells
FALLLeaves turn bright golden yellow
Questions people ask about Tulip Tree
How fast does a tulip tree grow?
It is one of the faster-growing native shade trees, but the fast-grown wood is somewhat weak and can break in ice or high wind.
Will a tulip tree grow in Wisconsin or Minnesota?
Yes. It is rated to zone 4 and grows in Minnesota under the right conditions; give it moist, well-drained soil and shelter from harsh wind.
When should I plant a bare-root tulip tree?
Early spring is best. Its fleshy roots establish better from spring planting than fall planting.
Can I plant a tulip tree near a black walnut?
Yes. Tulip tree tolerates the juglone that black walnut roots release.
Why are my tulip tree leaves turning yellow in summer?
Usually drought stress. Tulip tree needs consistent moisture and drops yellow leaves on dry sites.
What does the tulip tree look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant bare-root tree with no leaves. Plant it promptly and water it in well.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: University of Minnesota, NC State Extension, Morton Arboretum.