Liriodendron tulipifera seeds (Tulip Tree)

Description

Tulip trees are a spectacular magnolia relative with distinctive honey scented flowers and saddle like lobed leaves. Other than beautifying the landscape, its also known as “tulip poplar” as its tall straight growing trunks are used for furniture. In May, the cupped large tulip flowers start off greenish and by June, open to a yellowish green with an orange band inside. Pollinators are rewarded with a rich nectar bounty.  In autumn, the foliage turns a golden yellow. Fast growing. I’ve never seen pest nor disease on these gorgeous trees.  Apparently First Nations people tipped the flowers to drink its sweet nectar or harvested it to boil down to make syrup as they did with maples.

• Seed Count: 25
• Collection Date: Dec 2019
• Hardiness Zone: 4-9
• Height and Width: 50m tall at maturity
• Germination test type: cut (40%)
• Family: Magnoliaceae

How to germinate Liriodendron tulipifera seeds:

Soak seed for 12-24 hours. Seed needs 30* days of cold stratification. Sow 7 mm deep in sandy loam. Germinate at 20 C. Should see little sprouts in 4 weeks or sooner. Use large containers as the little seedlings can grow 60 cm in their first season and the last thing they need is to be is root bound. Can put on incredible growth in the right spot.  Its not uncommon for twins to be tucked into a seed bearing wing. We baggie sow ours in screened bark mulch in resealable plastic bags to stratify and germinate in. Germinated seed is pricked out and transplanted in deep pots. Fast growing and very rewarding.

*Note: this is with our Skookum Grow trials as literature recommends 90-18o days of cold stratification. We’ve shortened ours to 30 days with excellent germination & robust seedlings.