TreeBaltimore

Tuliptree leaves have a unique shape that help make this tree easy to identify. With their rounded bases and pointed upper lobes, some say the leaf shape looks like the shape of a tulip flower; others think it looks like a cat’s face. These leaves emerge in early spring and eventually turn a lovely golden yellow in the fall.

Not only are tuliptree's leaves noteworthy, but the wood is unusual as well. While trees are typically categorized as either softwood or hardwood, recent research has shown that tuliptrees are somewhere in between. They are now placed in a 3rd category called "midwood." This difference in structure allows them to grow quickly while still remaining strong, and to be extremely effective at sequestering carbon. Learn more at https://theconversation.com/how-we-discovered-a-new-type-of-wood-and-how-it-could-help-fight-climate-change-236618

(Bark and fall color photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Vote for your favorite new city tree on our website at https://www.treebaltimore.org/official-city-tree

Before we head into tuliptree week, we want to highlight two more king-sized bald cypresses.

The first photo shows residents gathered round the massive bole (trunk) of the second largest bald cypress in Baltimore, located in Evesham Park near Northern Parkway and York Rd.

The second shows yet another gorgeous notable bald cypress, the 3rd largest in the city, located in Clifton Park, adjacent to the State Co-Champ.

The State of Maryland has been measuring big trees since 1925, and boasts the oldest program in the nation. Large trees are irreplaceable assets in our urban forest. They provide enormous economic and environmental benefits that only increase with age.

The TreeBaltimore team is excited to announce the next Notable Tree Bus Tour on Saturday, June 13th from 10am-1pm. Participants will get the chance to glimpse multiple bald cypresses and countless other leafy giants on this unique excursion.

Registration is open, and space is limited, so sign up today on our calendar at https://www.treebaltimore.org/treeevents

Bald cypress week continues at TreeBaltimore as we celebrate the many unique attributes of this wonderful native species.

The Maryland Co-Champion is located in Clifton Park. Yep, Baltimore City is tied with Calvert County for the largest bald cypress in the whole state!

You can find this girthy specimen just south of the hidden gardeners cottage, which was built when Clifton Mansion was a summer estate belonging to Johns Hopkins.

It is 279 inches in circumference, 82 feet in height, and has a 57 foot canopy spread, giving it a total score of 375 points. Check out its “knees” coming up out of the ground in photo 3.

Learn more about the largest trees across Maryland at mdbigtrees.org

Vote for your favorite new city tree on our website at https://www.treebaltimore.org/official-city-tree