Harpullia pendula
Family: Sapinsaceae Origin: Tropical and sub-tropical eastern Australia
A popular garden and urban tree, Tulipwood is a beautiful, native, hardy, and well-behaved small tree that suits landscapes well. It’s commonly used along urban coastal roads, as its toughness helps it to thrive in salty areas along ocean shores and in the less than ideal air and soil of the city. Its size makes it a valuable addition from a design standpoint alone, but it’s evergreen foliage, spring blooms and subsequent beautiful fruit make it a very good landscape specimen. It’s also a tree that provides high-quality lumber that is fine grained and dark in color, perfect for furniture making. Harpullias are part of a family of 26 other trees that scientists are studying for its naturally occurring and beneficial chemical properties- specifically for its saponin. Hence it’s family name- Sapinsaceae.
Arboriculture
Growth Form
Tulipwood is a smaller tree. In the wild it can reach up to 24 metres, but in the urban landscape they are smaller- usually no more than 6 metres in height. It grows in a dense yet round shape, open, yet dense and even.
Trunk
The trunk is an interesting grey color and sports a scaly texture. Despite its even appearance from afar, the trunk and branching structure is beautiful and interesting up close.
Flowering
Light green, 5 petaled flowers on panicles form in the spring/summer (November through January).
Foliage
Dark green leaflets are on one stem, numbering usually between three and eight. They usually measure between five and 12 centimeters each, are smooth on the sides, and are narrow ellipses with pointed ends. The veins of the leaves are easily visible on both sides of the leaves. This tree is evergreen as well.
Fruits
One of the most attractive things about Tulipwood is its fruiting. From late summer into fall, the bright yellow and red capsules on heavy panicles open, revealing dark and very shiny seeds between the two halves of each capsule. Most often, there are two seed capsule pods for each flower, and they open back to back with their dark shiny seeds facing opposite of each other.
Propagation
This tree is easily started from seed, fresh from the parent tree. Seeds can germinate right away after planting that same season, or sometimes they can take as long as two months. They do best planted right after harvesting for propagating.
Management
Cultivation
Harpullia naturally enjoys a wide range of conditions, but thrives best in well-draining soils that are also moisture retentive. They can withstand drying out occasionally after they’ve been established. You don’t need to fertilize established trees, but adding some well-rotted compost or other organic matter to the planting hole of new trees is recommended for some moisture retention and initial feeding for young growth. You can plant this tree near buildings and by sidewalks and roadways, as the root systems are unobtrusive and usually not destructive, though all root systems should be monitored. Tuliptrees grow slowly, but they are healthy and long-lived. Pruning by an arborist is recommended to encourage a central trunk or two is recommended when the tree is young. After they’ve become large and established, they’re virtually care and worry free.
One special note- Tuliptree is dioecious, and requires a male and female tree to set fruit, if fruit is desired.
A native Australian tree perfectly suited for urban living and garden cultivation, Harpullia pendula is an ideal candidate for just about every landscape requirement.
Angela says
Hello
I am trying to find a small tree that will provide some shade & privacy to a corner of my yard, but I have a sewerage easement & pit in that corner. Would the Tulipwood be an option and not interfere with the sewerage pipes?
David Taylor says
They actually grow quite large in their native environment, Angela. If they get into your pipes then they will be monsters. I suggest smaller trees such as dwarf red flowering gum cultivars.
Peter Coombes says
Hi, we live at the base of Mt Glorious on 15 acres and 5 of those acres is under cabinet making quality trees consisting of silky oaks, ironwood, black bean and tulipwood to name a few. Most species are doing very well apart from the tulipwood which are either dead or only green growth in the crowns with all lower limbs dead and am wondering if you may have any ideas what may be the cause for this occurrence. The trees have been planted in alternating rows running from top of plantation to bottom and most of the rows of tulipwood are as described above. We have only been on the property for 18 months and when we arrived the plantation had been left to its own to survive thus allowing massive amounts of lantana to rise into the crowns of a lot but not all the trees but particularly the tulipwood. We have been stripping the lantana from all the trees and happy to say we are making great progress in this area. Any advise on the cause and remedy would be greatly appreciated.
David Taylor says
Hi Peter. The leaves are shade-intolerant. Now that you’ve removed the lantana that was blocking the sunlight they should recover so long as they aren’t crowded. I suggest lots of woodchip mulch so the weeds don’t get a foothold now.
Leanne Webb says
Hi I was wondering whether the tulipwood tree would be suitable for planting if children have allergies.? Do you know anything about that ? It would be great if you could get back to me. Want to find non allergenic trees that provide shade. I find it difficult to find things about allergies and trees
Thank you in advance Leanne Webb
David Taylor says
Hi Leeanne. I haven’t heard of any problems they may cause and my usual sources don’t indicate they would be a problem. Brisbane City Council favours them for planting on footpaths, and they try to choose the most inoffensive trees they can.
Maggie says
Hi David why is it that one of our 11 Harpullia has yellow leaves and stunted height? We’re in a 7 year old townhouse development built on fill which was originally well landscaped. What can I do to help the health of the tree?
David Taylor says
Hi Maggie. First of all I’d look at its position. If it isn’t getting the sunlight it needs then it won’t improve. If it is, then give it a bit of Urea.
Lesley says
Hi David,
I saw this Tulipwood tree growing in a shopping centre and thought what a wonderful tree it would make in the paddocks since it’s foliage is so dense. But I’m trying to find out if it is safe for livestock before I plant them. It would certainly give them great shade and rain protection, but if they eat any dropped leaves or fruit would it make them sick? cheers.
David Taylor says
Hi Lesley. My usual sources say they have, “no known toxicity” and it’s commonly planted by Brisbane City Council.
Lynn Youngson says
Hi David
I am weighing up the pros and cons of whether to plant a tuckeroo or tulipwood tree in a courtyard area adjacent to a pool to create shade in the area not covered by a sail. There is an underground drain pipe from a downpipe that runs across this area and through to the footpath and road exit. What would you advise? I like both trees. Thank you
Dirk says
Gday Lynn, only issue with the Tulipwood in that situation is it drops stacks of leaves. Great for producing leaf litter for use in your garden and great when it rots into the soil – but perhaps not so great if it falls into your pool!
Lynn Youngson says
Thanks David. I have decided on the tuckeroo.
David Taylor says
Hi Lyn. Tulipwoods are slower to grow in Brisbane but either could damage the pipes. I’d take the chance but can’t accept responsibility for your choice without assessing the site, sorry.
Tania Butcher says
Hello David, I am glad that I stumbled across this blog. I am sure I will be referring to it frequently.We have built a new house and are deciding what to plant where. We live in Maclean in northern NSW on the banks of the Clarence River. I had in mind a leopard tree at the front of the house as it faces west. We need a shade tree that has a canopy for shade that won’t block our view of the river from the window. I thought the leopard tree ticked all the boxes until I read the information you provided about it’s root system and how big it eventually grows. Now I am back at square one and looking for a small decorative tree that will grow a canopy about roof height to shade the front of the house. Ideally the trunk would be located to the side of the window so as to not obscure the view of the river. This one plant is the most important one in the garden because of shade it needs to provide. Can you suggest a suitable substitute for the leopard tree. I looked at your information on tulipwood but I am not sure that it will provide enough shade.
I am going to put 3 foxtail palms in a grouping near the driveway for a bit shade on the north/west side of the house. I thought about planting a golden cane palm in the middle of the foxtails to protect them from the hot sun while they become established. Can you please offer some advice on the above. Kind regards
Tania
David Taylor says
Hi Tania. Sorry, Australian natives don’t tend to have that canopy effect. Perhaps a dwarf Callistemon could be shaped to your liking? You’ll need to be wary of its proximity to the house. Engineers blame a lot of subsidence on trees.
Jo says
Thanks for the great pictures. I finally know what trees we have protecting us from the hot summer. The tulipwood is indeed hardy!
Marcel says
I just planted a Harpullia Pendula but I think I may have planted it too close to another tree – QLD Maple, (Flyndersia Brayleyana)
Is it ok for these two trees to be only 1.2mtrs apart. The HP is a 25ltr and the FB is a 45ltr.
Thanks, Marcel
David Taylor says
Hi Marcel. No, it’s not ok. If you can dig one up and move it, you’ll be saving it from overcrowding.
John Bestevaar says
Dear David
Thank you for your great blog.
I dont want to be negative but you might have a typo in the family name of harpulia.
Should be “Sapindaceae” ?
Cheers JohnB
faye wyer says
I have a wonderful Harpullia Pendula in my front courtyard. Its about 16 plus years old. Its magnificent. BUT its driving us MAD!! When it flowers Nov – February it drops leaves, flowers and flowers stalks……I want to cut it out but it is so very beautiful, it is staining the sandstone around it and we have to have someone constantly cleaning… Is there a male and female tree and is it possible we have the female as I have noticed some around the area don’t flower. What can I do my husband want’s to cut it down. I would like to send you some photos for your other readers, it is a magnificent spreading tree.