I was thrilled on Thursday when I spotted this flowering Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) at Occoquan Regional Park. Tulip trees, also known as tulip poplars or yellow poplars, don’t start flowering until they are older, up to 15 years old, and grow fast and really tall—the current tallest tulip tree on record has reached 191.9 feet (58 meters). Individual tulip trees have been known to live for up to 500 years, according to Wikipedia.
I had seen flowers like this one on the ground repeatedly while hiking in the woods this spring and never could figure out where they came from. Most of the time, the flowers are found high in the tree, out of sight. In this case, I was fortunate that the flower was still attached to the tree and was only slightly above eye level.
Here are a few shots of the tulip tree flowers—they definitely remind me of tulips, although they are in no way related, but instead are related to magnolia trees. The final shot shows a flower that had fallen and gives you a look at the distinctively shaped leaf of the tulip tree.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
So pretty!!
Nice Mike! Great detail!
Great photos, Mike. I love the fallen blossom. I tried to get a photo of a fallen dogwood blossom, but I didn’t get the look I was hoping for. You did well.
Thanks, Dan. I was so excited to capture the blooming flowers that I was not sure I wanted to shoot a fallen blossom, but when I saw that the leaves were attached, I decided I had to photograph it (and I am glad for that split-second decision).
Beautiful bloom. You have captured them perfectly. 👍
Beautiful! I love tulip trees! Thank you.
Beautiful photographs, Mike. I love, love tulip trees. We have one by our pond. The dried pods in the late fall are stunning and wonderful in fall flower arrangements.
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Thank you for sharing your wonderful photographs of this beautiful bloom, Mike! We are thankful one of our neighbors has a Tulip Tree and we vicariously enjoy the blooms each year.
I didn’t know such a plant existed. You’ve educated me once again. It’s a very pretty plant.
I always wondered why they were called tulip trees. Now I know. Thank you!
I never see them in the wild here. Nice find!
Very attractive flowers, Mike.
Thanks, Chris. If these flowers were growing directly out of the ground, they would not be quire so remarkable. What makes them special for me is that they grow on trees, often high up in the trees.
Hi Mike – I thought I ‘d connect with you via an older post… We have followed each other for a few years. Typically we acknowledge each other’s posts and at times leave a comment when something moves us to share our reactions or thoughts. I like this about our connection. It occurred to me that I haven’t seen anything from you for a month or more and wondered whether you still get notified of the http://www.sv-Anui.com posts? It may be that WordPress has dropped followers which sometimes happens for some unknown reason and at the most inopportune times… My dad died on 18 May. The posts “Sadness” and “Change of scenery” share this painful time. Have you seen them?
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad, Chris. Let me double check to see if I have been getting your postings. I try to keep up on on postings in my reader, but there is a chance that they simply slipped through the cracks. During the time of this pandemic, I must confess that I have been a bit more distracted than usual, so I may not have kept up with everyone’s postings. I will check now and catch up. The last I recall, you were stuck at a mooring and couldn’t leave, for fear that you would not be accepted at a new location.
There were several of these on the street on which we rented a house near the Vienna metro station. I always looked forward to their spring flowering. Thanks for the memory, Mike!
The more comments that I receive from folks, the more I realize that tulip trees are quite common in Northern Virginia (and elsewhere). One of the coolest things about taking photos is that it helps me to focus my attention on and “discover” things that are in plain sight.
Very true; the more we open our shutters, and share, the more we open our eyes. That’s one of the best things about this wonderful hobby!
Thank you for sharing this info about tulip poplars! We have LOTS of them in Seneca Creel State Park. They are the tallest, straightest trees. Their leaves and flowers both remind me of tulips.
I love tulip trees too.