Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

This fast-growing North American forest tree can reach 165 ft (50m ) - the Belfast specimen certainly seemed to be heading that way. It is a member of the Magnolia family, one of the most primitive groups of flowering plants. The flowers are tulip-shaped and usually yellow with a tinge of pink. The distinctive leaves look as if their ends have been cut off. The wood is fine-grained, easily worked and was much used in late Victorian times for the structural parts of wardrobes, chests-of drawers, etc. The soft nature of the wood, however, makes it a favourite diet of woodworm.

The Belfast Botanic Gardens had a fine specimen of the tulip tree, situated just beside the entrance to the Tropical Ravine. This spectacular specimen, illustrated below, eventually had to be removed in 2015, alas, as it was damaging the structure of the Tropical Ravine. A new tulip tree has been planted nearby. The tag number and location above relate to the new tree which was planted to honour the retirement of Reg Maxwell, head of the Botanic Gardens.