Tulip Poplar Pollen Color, Bloom Season and Bee Forage

Visual guideTulip Poplar pollen

Photo: High Contrast · CC BY 3.0 de

Plant Facts

SeasonSpring to Summer

USDA Zone4 - 9

Plant TypeTree

ForagePollen and nectar

Pollen ValueMedium

Nectar ValueHigh

Honey TypeTulip poplar honey

Color FamilyOrange and amber

Scientific NameLiriodendron tulipifera

Common NamesTulip poplar, Tulip tree, Yellow poplar

Native RegionsEastern United States, Southern Ontario

Range StatusNative to eastern North America.

Color ConfidenceModerate

Color MethodA North Carolina beekeeper bloom chart assigns tulip poplar pollen the approximate field-guide swatch #FCF3CF, consistent with a cream-white qualitative reference.

Reviewed2026-10-11

Quick Answer

Tulip Poplar pollen is shown in this guide as an orange and amber tone. It is listed as tree, associated with spring to summer bloom timing, USDA zone 4 - 9, and pollen and nectar forage value.

Pollen Color Notes

The visual color shown for Tulip Poplar is grouped broadly with orange and amber pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.

Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.

Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context

Tulip Poplar is listed for spring to summer. The record lists USDA zone 4 - 9; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: April, May, June.

Its forage type is pollen and nectar, with pollen value marked as medium and nectar value marked as high. Tulip poplar can be a major spring nectar source in its native range and may also provide useful pollen during its concentrated bloom.

Honey-type note: Tulip poplar honey. Use the values here as a field-guide reference rather than a local bloom guarantee.