color, then transition to a deep yellow as the flower
matures. The base of each petal is tinted with a patch
of orange sherbet. The many yellow stamens sur-
round a cone-shaped conglomeration of pistils, also
yellow. The tulip tree flower produces copious amounts
of nectar that collects in the sepals. (I recommend
trying this sweet treat—get it before the aphids do.)
My go-to reference for landscape trees is the
massive The Tree Book by Dirr and Warren (2019
edition). The authors emphasize that the large
leaves of tulip tree require adequate moisture so
it's best to avoid planting this species in dry loca-
tions. Tulip tree is flexible with regard to soil pH. It
appears there is some wiggle room in the hardiness
zone, which Dirr and Warren list as "(4)5 to 9."
Washington Square Park is home to the oldest tree
on Manhattan Island, an
English Elm. The oldest tree
in New York City, however, is a tulip tree growing in
Alley Pond Park, a 635-acre (257 ha) public park in
Queens. In 2004, the Alley Pond tulip tree
was esti-
mated
to be "as much as 450 years old," so the tree
is 468 years old this year. Not to be outdone, Staten
Island boasts the tallest tulip tree:
NYC Parks says the
tulip tree in Clove Lakes Park is "possibly the largest sin-
gle-trunked great tree in the city" at 110.7 feet (33.7 m).
I hope the Washington Square Park tulip trees will
someday tower as they do at NYBG, as befits a species
that matures among the tallest of eastern hardwood
trees. Its crown spread is notable, too. At an average
of 40 feet (12.2 m) wide, tulip tree needs room to
achieve an optimal silhouette. Could the Washington
Square Park tulip trees attain the current age of the
oldest tulip tree in the City? To do so, they would
have to live until the years 2462 and 2469!
2
2
Estimates using equation: diameter × growth rate = age. The
current diameters of the tulip trees in the Park are 9.25 inches
(23.5 cm) and 7 inches (17.8 cm). The tulip tree's growth factor is 3.
The base of each petal is tinted
with a patch of orange sherbet.
Tulip tree flower.
Tulip tree leaf bud.
16 CityTREES
