N: Tuliptree

This tree’s multiple trunks likely regrew from a stump after clearcutting in this area. Though the woods around you may seem to be filled with old, towering trees, this forest is relatively young.

The tallest tree in the eastern United States, the Tuliptree is a fast-growing and long-lived species. It prefers well-drained soil and full sunlight. Its distinctive yellow-green flowers are favored by hummingbirds, while its sweet-tasting sap is a favorite of yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Though one common name is “tulip poplar”, this species is not a poplar at all, but a relative of the magnolia.

Tuliptrees have large, unique leaves which resemble the outline of a tulip flower. You can also recognize a Tuliptree by the light-colored, diamond shaped furrows in its bark. Typically, this tree grows very straight and tall with few branches on its lower trunk.