Tuliptree, found throughout all of Ohio, is named for the appearance of its showy flowers and the silhouette of its large leaves, both of which resemble tulips. It is also known as Tulip Poplar and Yellow Poplar, in reference to the fluttering of its leaves like those of the Poplars, and for the yellow colors of both its flowers and fall foliage.
Tuliptree is the tallest tree of eastern forests with the straightest trunks, achieving heights of well over 100 feet with 4 foot diameters, when not prematurely harvested. It frequents moist woodlands and edges of fields, especially on downslopes where water drains. Its lightweight wood, often used as a base for veneer, is straight-grained, relatively soft for a hardwood, and has a faded olive-green color.
Native throughout most of the Eastern United States, it quickly reaches a height of 80 feet and a breadth of 40 feet, but it can grow much taller. As a member of the Magnolia Family, it is related to the Magnolias (including Cucumbertree) and the only other Tuliptree (Chinese Tuliptree).
Planting Requirements - Tuliptree prefers moist but well-drained, slightly acidic, deep, rich soils, but adapts to average, drier soils of neutral to alkaline pH. It is one of the fastest growing shade trees, achieving leaps of two to three feet per year in youth, when it has a symmetrical, pyramidal outline. As with all members of the Magnolia Family, it is fleshy-rooted without many root hairs, and prefers being transplanted in early spring, rather than autumn. It grows in full sun to partial sun, and is found in zones 4 to 9.
Potential Problems - Tuliptree has one significant pest (aphids), which chew on new growth and secrete a sticky substance (known as honeydew) on the leaves, which serves as food for a sooty mold, rendering the leaves blackened with fungus and unattractive, but not harmed.
Diseases that afflict Tuliptree include Verticillium wilt, root rot, and trunk canker. Tuliptree is one of the most common trees (the Birches as a group are another) that serve as "drought indicators" by dropping their yellowing interior leaves when their soil becomes too dry during summer drought. This is simply how they cope with drought, by cutting down on the number of transpiring "water leaks".
Deadline to order trees is next Friday, March 18th. You can click on the "Tree Sale" page above and print an order blank.
"Hooked on Fishing"
Learning about being safe around electricity. Washington Electric and Guernsey/Muskingum Electric present this class.
Sheep production, shearing, and a lesson on wool production from the sheep to clothing is always a favorite with the kids. During lunch break, there is a sheep herding demonstation using Border Collies.
Technician Van Slack teaching a group of 3rd graders a session on how soil is the basis of life.
The large white trillium was adopted as the official wildflower of Ohio in 1987. It is found in each of Ohio's 88 counties.
Wildlife Specialist Joe Lehman doing stream monitoring with a group of 3rd graders. The type of "bugs" found in a stream help to guage the health of the water.
Click on the photo to enlarge and print it. If you come to the workshop, you can pick up your tree seedling order at the same time.
Hundreds of SWCD staff & volunteer board supervisors from around the state met in Columbus on Monday and Tuesday for the annual partners meeting. Also attending were ODNR soil & water staff, & NRSC staff.
We attended lots of breakout sessions designed to better equip us with the technical knowledge to serve our customer base.
