Tulip Tree is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 6 through 12 and shrugs off deer. Its mid spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
6-12
pH Range
4.5-6.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Tulip Tree on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether tulip tree actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score tulip tree against your land's real conditions.
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What Tulip Tree is
Tulip Tree grows as a perennial and reaches around 90 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in mid spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Tulip Tree
Tulip Tree grows in USDA zones 6 through 12. Tulip Tree does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 6.5. It needs a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days and about 1000 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
6-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 6.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-18°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
90 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set tulip tree in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Tulip Tree prefers pH 4.5 to 6.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — tulip tree isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Tulip Tree is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Tulip Tree thrives
Tulip Tree is hardy across USDA zones 6 through 12. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 6–12·Where Tulip Tree growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Tulip Tree can grow in these states:
See if Tulip Tree will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether tulip tree actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Tulip Tree in my zone?
Tulip Tree grows in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Tulip Tree?
Set tulip tree out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Tulip Tree need?
Tulip Tree needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Tulip Tree need?
Tulip Tree prefers soil pH 4.5 to 6.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Tulip Tree attract pollinators?
Yes — tulip tree's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Tulip Tree safe for pets?
Tulip Tree is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.