Re: tulip poplars

**A*@aol.com**

We have half a dozen tulip poplars just off our lawn at the edge of an  
oak/hickory community on top of a rocky cliff, and our experience is the  same 
as Peter's.  The leaves don't turn brown, and we've had no  problem with 
branches or anything else dropping off of  it. Ours appear to be quite old and 
are extremely large. Perhaps  it's in a "happy" environment for this species?

However, because of the size alone, I would not recommend them for lawn  
trees for any but the largest lawns.  But, then, the same can be said for  any 
of the large forest trees, like oaks and hickories and so many other  
beauties.

Lina

In a message dated 12/17/2012 9:18:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
thewildgardener@earthlink.net writes:

GWL: We  have two aged tulip poplars (really magnolias) on our property and 
they do  not shed in August, the leaves do not turn brown, they live to be 
300 to  400 years and are a valued timber tree. Perhaps yours are an 
inferior  
cultivar? Peter
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judy Lowe"  <hardbackwryter@yahoo.com>
To:  <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012  7:37 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] tulip poplars

I'd like to second  Amy's comments (see below) about avoiding tulip 
poplars. 
I didn't grow  this tree during the years I lived in Massachusetts, but 
farther south, if  August is a dry month, the leaves start turning brownish 
and falling off,  way before you want them to. Who wants to be raking 
leaves 
in August??  Also, the trees have big, coarse leaves that are messy in the 
lawn and on  the sidewalk as they fall over a period of several months. But 
the main  point is that they detract from the rest of the late summer and 
fall  garden.

Because they're native, tulip poplars are the state tree of at  least a 
couple of states. I suspect that the legislators never had one in  their 
yards! (Admittedly, they are pretty when they bloom, and I like the  
trunks.)

They're used as a street tree, believe it or not, on the  suburban street 
parallel to the one i live on. The developers did a great  job with all the 
other tree choices, but i know that the residents who  have them really 
regret these -- and the trees are less than 10 years  old.

Judy Lowe

Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:04:58 -0500
From:  Amy Ziffer <amyziffer@earthlink.net>

I'd also avoid tulip poplars  because they are messy trees and shed
lower branches a LOT as they grow.  They are also extremely prone to
powdery mildew and can act as mildew  incubators for your whole
garden. When they get very large they are a  hazard to structures
because in high winds their entire top can snap off.  They are
definitely weak-wooded. Long and short, they are lovely forest  trees
and great nectar sources but not suitable for residential  landscaping
on anything but estates where they can be situated far from  any
structures. I would never put one in the midst of other  ornamental
plantings.

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