The reddish-male flowers hang on a slender stalk, while the yellowish-female flowers hang at the end of a short stalk. The flowers are not an attraction of the tree, but they do give rise to the fruit, which is a bur with 2, 3-sided nuts inside it. The fruit can be collected from October-November.
Trail/Garden Location:
Art Trail, Tulip Tree Trail, West Walkway
Garden Uses:
A medium-sized tree, it is best used as a canopy tree. Although growth is quite slow, this tree is worth it. The attractive, gray bark and light green leaves are paired nicely with the low, horizontal limb structure. The tree prefers a fertile, moist soil in full to partial sun.
Wildlife Benefits:
The nuts provide food for quail, wood duck, and purple finches, just to name a few.
Leaf Type:
The light green, oval leaves have blunt serrations and turn beautiful gold in fall. The lower leaves remain attached during winter and fade to a nice wheat color. The leaves remain attached until the new growth emerges in the spring.
