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Tuliptree: mature size, roots and how far from the house to plant it
Tuliptree (tulip poplar), Liriodendron tulipifera: how big it gets, what its roots do, and the planting distances to keep from a house, patio, septic field, sewer line and power lines, with a checker for your spot.
Tuliptree grows 70–90 ft tall and 35–50 ft wide, per the Morton Arboretum. Plant it at least 25 ft from the house, 15 ft from a patio or driveway, 90 ft from a septic field and 20 ft from a sewer line. It grows too tall for under power lines. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
Is your spot far enough away?
| House | — |
| Patio, driveway or walk | — |
| Septic field | — |
| Sewer line | — |
| Power lines | — |
Measure from the trunk. The rules behind each number are in the table below. Your township, utility or septic permit can set its own setbacks.
Tuliptree facts
| Mature height | 70–90 ft |
|---|---|
| Mature width | 35–50 ft |
| Size class | Large |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Hardiness zones | 5–9 |
| Light | Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily) |
| Soil | Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Form | Oval, Pyramidal, Round, Upright |
| Origin | Native to North America |
| Planting notes | Highly susceptible to ice damage, Marginally hardy, Weak wood and branch structure |
From Morton Arboretum. Its zone range includes zone 6, which covers most of central Pennsylvania; check your own with our hardiness zone by ZIP tool.
Tuliptree roots
On Iowa State’s surface-root list.
Iowa State Extension lists it among trees with abundant surface roots, and the University of Florida says to keep trees with aggressive roots 10 to 15 ft from pavement.
How far to plant tuliptree from things
| From | Plant at least | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or building | 25 ft | Half the mature canopy width (eXtension) |
| Patio, driveway or walk | 15 ft | Aggressive roots: 10 to 15 ft (University of Florida) |
| Septic drain field | 90 ft | At least the root spread, estimated from mature height (Virginia Cooperative Extension), or the canopy width (University of Florida), and no closer than 20 ft for small trees (UMaine) |
| Sewer line or lateral | 20 ft | “Do not plant trees within 20 feet” of a sewer line (PA Water Environment Association) |
| Overhead power lines | 50 ft | Tall-growing trees at least 50 ft from lines (PPL Electric) |
| Retaining wall | 25 ft | At least 5 ft from the wall, with the canopy edge behind the wall (CMHA) |
Distances use the top of the size range, measured from the trunk. The full sources are in our tree planting distance guide.
Other large trees
50–70 ft tall, 30–50 ft wide. Plant 25 ft from the house.
40–60 ft tall, 35–45 ft wide. Plant 23 ft from the house.
60–75 ft tall, 40–50 ft wide. Plant 25 ft from the house.
60–70 ft tall, 40–50 ft wide. Plant 25 ft from the house.
60–75 ft tall, 60–75 ft wide. Plant 38 ft from the house.
50–80 ft tall, 100 ft wide. Plant 50 ft from the house.
How to identify tuliptree
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with lobes |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Leaves 4 to 8 inches long with four lobes and a notched or flat top, roughly shaped like a tulip; smooth edges. |
| Bark | Smooth gray-green when young; later flat-topped ridges with whitish furrows in a diamond pattern. |
| Fruit | Upright cone-like clusters about 2 inches long of winged seeds that fall apart in fall and winter. |
| Twigs | Red-brown, often shiny twigs; large leafy stipules ring the twig. |
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists tuliptree as native to Pennsylvania.
Identification notes from the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words; status from the PNHP PA Vascular Plant List. See all 140 trees in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Questions
How big does tuliptree get?
Tuliptree grows 70–90 ft tall and 35–50 ft wide at maturity, per the Morton Arboretum. Growth rate: fast.
How far from the house should you plant tuliptree?
At least 25 ft, half of its 35–50 ft mature width, so the canopy clears the house. Keep it 15 ft from a patio or driveway.
Do tuliptree roots damage foundations, patios or pipes?
On Iowa State’s surface-root list.
What zones does tuliptree grow in?
Tuliptree is listed for USDA zones 5–9 by the Morton Arboretum. That includes zone 6, which covers most of central Pennsylvania.
Can tuliptree go under power lines?
No. At 70–90 ft it outgrows the 25 ft limit for trees under lines; PPL says to plant tall-growing trees at least 50 ft from lines.
Sources: Morton Arboretum (Liriodendron tulipifera); planting distances from the sources in our tree planting distance guide: eXtension, Morton Arboretum, Iowa State, University of Florida, Virginia Cooperative Extension, UMaine, PA Water Environment Association, PPL Electric, WV Forestry and CMHA. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
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