I've written about this tree either here or on the dark side forums in the past, but this time I'll include pictures. This tulip poplar branches right down to the ground and seems to maintain a haystack form. Could this be a cultivar of some sort, or perhaps just an unusual tree?
Scott
Of course, a big advantage of such a tree is that you can actually see the flowers.
Scott
Here's a flower from a nearby tree. You can really see the family resemblance to magnolias when you can get a good look at tulip poplar flowers.
Scott
Neat tree. Our big one is in a spot where I have to keep it limbed up, but we can see it's blooms from a bedroom window. It is covered with blooms right now, and swarming with honey bees.
Maybe the owner was just wise enough (or lazy enough) not to raise the crown?
Guy S.
I think it looks like a different kind ...shape totally different even if it were limbed up.
That looks like pretty much every Liriodendron tulipifera of its age that I've ever seen (and planted), except that it hasn't been limbed up.
Keeping low branches may reduce some of the rapidity of lengthening of the newer upper branches, but the arrowhead, broad column shape is typical. When open grown, the broad spreading habit develops with age, and that's not an old tree. Probably about 15 years, tops.
Well Smarty Pants!!! You just contradicted me.....but I bow to your superior knowledge.
This tree has the very best branch structure, and great cover. For climbing, this tree can't be beat!
Prairie Home Companion,
Are you talking about Tulip Poplars in general or this specific tree?
This is the tree I lust after. That's right, I lust after it! After much debate, it's just to big for my front yard :(
Terrior,
How 'bout the back yard?
Seems like there's room for some selection...
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Pointy Head'
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Stand Corrected'
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Tree House'
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Kids Kingdom'
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Chippendales'
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Tantalizer'
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Park Patriarch'
Well none of mine look anything like that one and I have tons and tons of them (even young ones) None of them grow all the way down like that. I am NOT however disagreeing with SP.
LL:
Are yours growing in shady (woodland) situations? That's usually the case when trees don't retain lower limbs. It's usually a reaction to lack of light, with the tree sending all its resources into apical growth to outrace its competition to the sky, and not wasting any energy on the early young branches/leaves which will be in total shade and not be able to photosynthesize (contributing members of the organism).
An open-grown specimen (like the one Scott shows) doesn't have this to deal with. No shade at all, so every branch can live as long as it wants. Anthropomorphically speaking, of course.
The Agreeably Contrarian SP.
Put me on the list for Liriodendron tulipifera 'Tantalizer'. I think that one sounds fun.
I thought as much ____Anthropomorphically speaking of course. I guess mine are 'stand corrected' even though I would prefer 'chippendales'.
