Tiptoe through the window

By the window, that is where I’ll be

Come tiptoe through the tulips with me ~ Lyrics by Al Dubin

You might not believe it, but spring is almost here. I know we got walloped by another heck of a lot of snow yesterday, but only the day before the ground had finally peaked through old snow drifts in spots to reveal dirt. People shed winter coats, sported t-shirts, and desperately sought out patios to sun themselves on. That is exactly what all those patiently waiting bulbs are gearing up for too; an end to snow and sunshine to flourish in.

And while crocuses and snowdrops might be first to bloom in your garden, there are other blossoms (like tulips) that aren’t far behind.

There is another kind of flower that blooms in the spring, similar to a tulip, but happens to grow on a completely different kind of plant. The petals are yellowish-green and have orange hues at their centre. These beautiful 4-5 cm blossoms grow on large, deciduous trees native to the Carolinian forest and perfect to grow here in London, Ontario. Of course it takes 15 years before the 6-petalled blooms arrive though, but I am talking about the Liriodendron tulipifera, or as it is commonly known by, the tulip tree.

Tulip trees are large, fast-growing trees (up to 35 metres tall) which require full sun. Despite their name, they are most closely related to magnolia trees. Like them, they need plenty of moisture and prefer well-drained soil (sand or sandy loam). When young, the bark is relatively smooth and dark grey-green, turning brown and ridged as the tree matures. Make sure to leave it lots of space when you plant one, as its trunk can grow up to 100 cm in diameter and it has wide-spread roots once mature.

One of the more distinctive features of this majestic tree is its leaves. The light green leaves have 4-6 lobes that sit underneath a fairly straight top and turn yellow in fall. They have an alternate arrangement on branches. If you are trying to recognize one by its buds in winter, the buds are dark red and have flattened scales that resemble a duck-bill, just behind a large 12-14 mm terminal bud.

Other features of note you might want to take into consideration before planting your own tulip tree are its fruit. It has green or yellow 5-7 cm long conical clusters at the tips of its branches. The individual samara (fruit surrounded by a papery tissue that helps fruit fly away) are 4.5-8 cm long. Once they fly off the receptacle remains on the tree, serving as another recognition point for the tulip tree in winter. Just as the preceding flowers are a big draw for bees, the later seeds are an excellent food source for deer, squirrels, birds and rabbits.

So if you would like to tiptoe by this tulip, the season is now to do it. They prefer to be planted in the spring and will provide you with plenty of shade before you know it. Keep it away from your driveway, unless you want its honeydew dripping on your car when it is flowering. Prune it to a strong central leader and then let it grow to its heart’s content. You won’t regret planting this sturdy native tree, but if you want to know more, contact CLC Tree Services for details. We will happily answer any questions you may have, or even help you plant a tulip tree of your own this spring!

In the meantime, here’s an interesting video with a few more tidbits about tulip trees. Enjoy!

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