Tulip trees in Exeter are uncommon. The main reasons are for this are they are a fast growing and capable of growing over 50m in height. They are native to eastern North Amercia and are also known as Tulip poplar, Yellow poplar and canoewood. The tallest Tulip tree on record is approximately 58m tall and is called 'The tall one' and is lolcated in the  Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. 
VIDEO STUDY
PHOTO STUDY
The Tulip tree was introduced to Britain in the 17th century. It is a decidious tree and a member of the Magnolia family. Despite common names of Yello poplar and Tulip poplar it is not related to the Poplar / Willow family. Younger trees are capable of growing up to 30-100cm per year - which is very fast for a hardwood species. As they mature the crown spread greatly increases and they become an excellent shade tree (where allowed to grow). 
ENTIRE TREE
BARK & TRUNK
The bark is light brown / grey and furrowed on mature trees. They are typically a straight and upright tree with a single main stem. Tulip trees can be grown from seed or via grafting. They are not too fussy about the soil conditions but will not do so well in very wet conditions such as standing water. The root system can extend further than than the height of the tree so they should be planted with plenty of space and not close to housing or infrastructure. There are two Tulip trees in Exeter city center as of typing this study. The one South Street is smaller than the one on the High street. It is likely that both will be pollarded / topped to keep them as small trees.
CANOPY
CROWN
The branches are brown with visible leaf scars. Unlike some trees where the branches droop as they get older this is not the case for Tulip trees, they typically remain upright and do not produce dense amounts of branches or twigs. The branches are brown with visible leaf scars.
BRANCHES & TWIGS
LEAVES
The buds are very unique and really help with identification in the winter. They are smooth and flattended as if they have been gently squeezed. They also have a slight purple tinge to them as well. It is incredible to think that these flattened buds contain the makings of such incredible shaped leaves and beautiful flowers.
FLOWERS
FRUIT
The leaves are very big and easy to identify. They are arranged alternately and the shape is almost rectangular. They usually have 4 to 6 lobes and up to 15cm long. The 4 to 6 distinctive tips and long petiole (leaf stalk) really make the leaves stand out when in full leaf. The underside is a lighter green than the surface and is fairly smoth. During the Autumn the leaf colour changes to an array of warm yellows and will transform the landscape - they are really stunning.
BUDS
GROUND LITTER
The flowers are out between May and June and are very pretty. They are about the size of tennis balls and unlike some flowers which are hard to spot or hidden away by the leaves these really stand out. They are yellow and orange in colour and are pollinated by insects - mainly bees. After pollination the flowers turn into cone like structures. These contain hundreds of seeds and are dispersed by the wind. The germination rate of the seeds is very low, so a lot of patience and time is needed if you are wanting to try and grow these from seed.
OTHER USEFUL DATA
Picture
The Biodiversity Heritage Library
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The Biodiversity Heritage Library
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The Biodiversity Heritage Library
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The Biodiversity Heritage Library
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Gallaher's cigarettes tree card - credit to cigcardpix via Flickr
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Priory tea (scanned from personal collection)
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Carbon performance certificate by Treeconomics for Barcham Pro Trees
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Carbon capture data by Treeconomics for Barcham Pro Trees
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
QUICK FACTS
  • They are a fast growing and capable of growing over 50m in height
  • ​Their native range is eastern North Amercia
  • ​Other common names are Tulip poplar, Yellow poplar and canoewood
  • ​The tallest Tulip tree on record is approximately 58m tall and is called 'The tall one'
  • ​The Tulip tree was introduced to Britain in the 17th century
  • It is a decidious tree and a member of the Magnolia family
  • Despite common names of Yello poplar and Tulip poplar it is not related to the Poplar / Willow family
  • Younger trees are capable of growing up to 30-100cm per year - which is very fast for a hardwood species
  • As they mature the crown spread greatly increases and they become an excellent shade tree (where allowed to grow)
  • ​The bark is light brown / grey and furrowed on mature trees
  • They are typically a straight and upright tree with a single main stem
  • Tulip trees can be grown from seed (low germination rate) or via grafting
  • They are not too fussy about the soil conditions but will not do so well in very wet conditions such as standing water
  • The root system can extend further than than the height of the tree so they should be planted with plenty of space
  • The branches are brown with visible leaf scars
  • Unlike some trees where the branches droop as they get older this is not the case for Tulip trees​
  • The branches are brown with clearly visible leaf scars
  • The buds are very unique and really help with identification in the winter
  • They are smooth and flattended as if they have been gently squeezed
  • They also have a slight purple tinge to them as well
  • The leaves are very big and easy to identify. They are arranged alternately and the shape is almost rectangular
  • They usually have 4 to 6 lobes and up to 15cm long
  • The 4 to 6 distinctive tips and long petiole (leaf stalk) really make the leaves stand out when in full leaf
  • The underside is a lighter green than the surface and is fairly smoth
  • During the Autumn the leaf colour changes to an array of warm yellows
  • The flowers are out between May and June and are very pretty
  • They are about the size of tennis balls
  • Unlike some flowers which are hard to spot or hidden away by the leaves these really stand out
  • They are yellow and orange in colour and are pollinated by insects - mainly beetles and bees
  • The flowers may not develop on trees until they are 25 years or older
  • After pollination the flowers turn into cone like structures
  • These contain hundreds of seeds and are dispersed by the wind
  • The germination rate of the seeds is very low, so a lot of patience and time is needed
  • The wood is fine grained and stable and is easy to work and commonly used for cabinet and furniture framing
  • The wood is only moderately rot-resistant and is not commonly used in shipbuilding
  • Tulip tree leaves are eaten by eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillars and others
  • A tulip tree reaches its full size in around 200 years
  • There is a cultivar called 'Little Volunteer' which is grows up to 10m typically
  • Tulip trees have been around for a very long time, which is evidenced by fossil records
  • The native Americans used to make canoes out of the hollowed out trunks
  • The tulip tree is the state tree of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee
  • Introduced to Britain around 1650 by John Tradescant the Younger, the gardener to King Charles I
  • It is a major source of honey in the eastern United States 
SIMILAR LOOKING TREES
INDIAN BEAN TREE
SAUCER MAGNOLIA
PLEASE LEAF ME ANY FEEDBACK / COMMENTS
​If there is anything out of place or wrong please contact me. Equally if there is anything you wish to add please let me know. The more information we have about Tulip tree the better. Many thanks!