How do you start tulip tree seeds?

Question

I have some tulip tree seeds obtained from a tree in Indiana. They are sort of similar to the "helicopter" seeds from a maple tree, but VERY VERY hard. How do I start them. Do I somehow removed the outer casing, or just soak the whole thing in water or moist dirt or ???? I don't see how the seed can sprout through that hard casing. Anyone who has done this, please reply. Also, how fast do these grow? How long before first flowers? Thanks any and all.

Answer 1

Hi Grumpy -

I believe that Tulip Tree seeds (and their 'winged' nature) are going to go beyond just soaking. Now is a good time to plant the seeds - but, you are coming close to the end of the season because the seeds require some cold period (such as some flower bulbs) in order to germinate.

Tulip Tree (Liriodendrum sp) is not difficult to germinate - but, the amount of seeds (viability as we call it) in these species is low - so, you will not get a seedling for every seed which you plant. You should remove and break open the wing like structures on each seed. Then, store them in the refridge for about 2-3 months (the reason I said now may be good to plant is because it is still cold out - and this may 'mimic' the natural cold season better than if you were to plant them during the Summertime).

Plant them indoors in sterile potting soils (which you can buy at a nursery - or mix half peat and half vermiculite also at your nursery/hardware store). Then, wrap the entire contraption up in a plastic bag - soil, pot, and broken and refridged up seeds - and wait about 6-10 weeks for germination. Once they germinate, open up holes in the plastic 'greenhouse' to allow air to come in and not to promote fungus. As they get larger, remove the plastic all together and start to expose them to outdoor conditions very slowly -- have your patience ready because it will probably be 2-3 years before you have something which you can begin to plant outdoors as young trees, etc.

I love these trees - just feel comfortable breaking up the winged seeds, refridge to keep them in a cold spell, then plant and wait.

Great luck to you - and dont be so grumpy! :)
Chris

Answer 2

Tulip Poplar Seeds

Answer 3

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http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/liriodendron/tulipifera.htm
On favorable sites the success of regeneration can usually be determined by the size and vigor of the seedlings at the end of the third year. Height growth during the first year ranges from a few centimeters to more than 0.3 m (1 ft) on the best sites. With full light, rapid height growth begins the second year, and at the end of 5 years trees may be 3 to 5.5 in (10 to 18 ft) tall. During its seedling and sapling stages, yellow-poplar is capable of making extremely rapid growth. An 11-year-old natural seedling 15.2 m (50 ft) tall has been recorded.
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-I just picked up one already 3 inches tall from the ground. Yes, the seeds you have might not even grow. In my front yard, I have 3 Tulip Trees that are stuck together at the base which are 2.5feet thick each and 100 feet tall. Only God knows how many seeds fall from that tree/trees, but in my whole front yard, I might find 3 or 4 shoots a year.

In my back yard is a much smaller Tulip Tree 40-45feet tall, it rarely produces flowers. It produced flowers 2 years ago, then early last year didn't, and then mid to late last year the leafs fell off very early and then leaves grew back on the bottom branches. Right now the tree in my front yard is starting to produce leaves everywhere, even the small 1foot tall one I have in a pot is, but the one in the back almost seems dead, maybe it's just too early to tell. THE THING IS that there are 4 large PINE TREES 100 FEET TALL within 10-15 of it. The giant one in the front yard has no trees around it for 50-100 feet. SO, what I'm trying to say is when you are finally able to grow it and plant it, DON'T PUT IT NEXT TO ANY TREE OR ANYTHING FOR 50FEET.

THE AVERAGE HEIGHT FOR A FULL GROWN TULIP TREE IS 100-150 FEET, some old ones have grown nearly 250FEET.

HAAA, Look at this baby!
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3D%2522tulip%2Btree%2522%2Bkentucky%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501%26vm%3Dp%26x%3Dwrt&w=400&h=505&imgurl=hazardkentucky.com%2F2000%2Ftree1.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhazardkentucky.com%2Fmore%2Ftuliptree.htm&size=68.9kB&name=tree1.jpg&p=%22tulip+tree%22+kentucky&type=jpeg&no=11&tt=13&oid=64d8504573b2f730&ei=UTF-8
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Answer 4

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RE:
How do you start tulip tree seeds?
I have some tulip tree seeds obtained from a tree in Indiana. They are sort of similar to the "helicopter" seeds from a maple tree, but VERY VERY hard. How do I start them. Do I somehow removed the outer casing, or just soak the whole thing in water or moist dirt or ???? I don't...

Answer 5

place seeds in a cup with wet paper towel on the bottom dont let the towel dry out it should germinate