Liriodendron tulipifera 'AUREOMARGINATUM'

Belonging to the same family as magnolia, common name tulip tree may be misleading. This is the tree with huge lyre-shaped, deciduous leaves which do appear to miss a lobe. This variety is called Aureomarginatum because its leaves are decorated with broad creamy-yellow margins that turn light green as they mature in summer. Leaf colour changes to golden yellow in autumn.

The flowers look like small tulips of rich creamy yellow to pale green colour with an orange band at the bottom of the calyx - both inside and outside each flower. I saw plants not older than 5 years and they already produced at least 10 flowers throughout the month of June.

Tulip tree grows fast, though, this variety is a bit slower than its parent, yet you can expect a tree of almost 20 meters in full maturity (50-60 years). If pruned as young (preferably after flowering – early July) it can be kept as a large, dense shrub for some time. It will grow in partial shade, too, but likes full sun best. Tulip tree needs moist, reasonably drained soil, slightly on the acid side. Plants older than some 3 years can withstand temperatures down to approx. -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 17-06-2012