Tulip Tree

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Papilio glaucus, Callosamia angulifera, Callosamia promethea, Actias luna, Antheraea polyphemus, Hyalophora cecropia, Automeris io, Epimecis hortaria, Hyphantria cunea, Halysidota tessellaris, Orgyia leucostigma, Lymantria dispar, Erannis tiliaria, Phyllocnistis liriodendronella
S14 Nearctic/eastern NA host records; S4 Papilio glaucus confirmed
❄️ Winter Food Source: Seeds eaten by Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Additional seed consumers include American Goldfinch, Carolina Chickadee, and Purple Finch. Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, and Red Squirrel also cache and consume seeds. Cone-like aggregate of samaras persists into winter, with seedfall from mid-October through mid-March.
S57 Northern Cardinal; S10 Cardinal, Goldfinch, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Finch, squirrels; S41 seedfall Oct-Mar

Proximity Score: 2
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: SE
CEC Eco-Regions: 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.7 – Northeastern Coastal Zone
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) with IUCN status Least Concern. In Canada, ranked N4 nationally. In Ontario, ranked S4 (Apparently Secure), reaching its northern range limit in southern Ontario. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. In Vermont, extremely rare (S1, endangered). The species is not native to Quebec; all QC herbarium specimens are from botanical gardens in Montreal.
S22 G5, N4, S4 ON, IUCN LC; S26 not SARA listed; S61 S1 in VT; S54 QC specimens from Jardin botanique
Rarity Ranks: ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Tuliptree occupies rich, moist, well-drained coves and lower mountain slopes in eastern temperate forests. It is intermediate in succession, rapidly outgrowing pioneer shrubs but ultimately replaced by sugar maple, beech, and basswood in undisturbed forests. At its northern range limit in southern Ontario, it is confined to valleys and stream bottoms below 300 m elevation. In Michigan, it inhabits rich deciduous forests with Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana, and Quercus spp.
S41 coves, lower slopes, valleys at northern limit; S10 intermediate succession; S7 rich deciduous forests

Roles: Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Nurse Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Nurse Plant: S10 keyword match: pioneer (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 4 bee associations (threshold=3)]
Notes: Canopy-layer tree suited as an overstory anchor in woodland guilds. Its fast growth rate and tall, straight form provide rapid canopy closure while its deep root system and FACU moisture preference allow understory establishment. Juglone tolerance makes it a valuable companion near black walnut. Pollinator-attracting flowers produce considerable nectar, supporting honey bees and native pollinators below the canopy.
S29 Woodland Garden Canopy, bee plant; S41 fast growth; S3 juglone tolerant; S10 nectar and pollen attract bees

Category: Anthelmintic, Febrifuge, Antirheumatic, Antidiarrheal, Dermatological Aid, Analgesic, Stimulant, Tonic, Diuretic, Nervine
S28 Cherokee and Rappahannock uses; S29 tulipiferine, heart/nervous system effects
Notes: Cherokee used bark infusion for pinworms, dysentery, dyspepsia, rheumatism, and cholera infantum. Root bark infusion taken for fevers. Decoction blown onto wounds, boils, and fractures. Bark used in cough syrup. Rappahannock applied bruised leaf poultice for neuralgic pain and chewed green bark as a stimulant. Inner bark contains tulipiferine, reported to exert effects on the heart and nervous system. Seeds and root bark used as anthelmintics.
S28 Cherokee and Rappahannock ethnobotanical uses; S29 tulipiferine, diuretic, tonic

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Cherokee used flowers to make honey. Root bark used as a lemon-like flavouring in spruce beer, also serving to correct bitterness. Edibility rating is very low (1/5); this is a minor historical food use rather than a culinary species.
S28 Cherokee Food, Sauce & Relish: used to make honey; S29 root as lemon-like flavouring in spruce beer