Tulip Tree Colouring Page

The tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is native to eastern North America and belongs to the magnolia family. It is not a true tulip, but its green-yellow flowers have a tulip-like cup. This is one of the tallest eastern hardwoods: mature forest trees commonly reach 25 to 40 metres, and exceptional specimens can exceed 50 metres. A tulip tree may live for 200 years or more. Its straight trunk rises toward a high crown, and every leaf has a distinctive squared or shallow-notched tip with four main lobes. In late spring, flowers open high among the leaves. Cone-like seed clusters develop later and release many winged seeds. Bees, beetles and other insects visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. The tree is also a host plant for eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillars, while squirrels and birds may use branches or seeds. In autumn its leaves turn clear yellow, but this scene shows the fresh green and flowers of late spring. A large woodland tree is best enjoyed from the ground. Children should not climb high branches or taste flowers and seeds; instead, they can look for a fallen leaf and compare its unusual outline with the drawing. Colour the tulip-shaped blossoms greenish yellow or creamy yellow with a bright orange band near the base. Keep the centre pale green or yellow. Leaves can be fresh medium green, with a lighter underside and darker veins; if you want to imagine the season beginning to change, add one early golden leaf. Use grey-brown on the straight trunk with long upward strokes that emphasize its height. An eastern tiger swallowtail is usually yellow with bold black stripes and small blue or orange marks near the lower wings. Colour the squirrel grey or warm brown with a cream belly. Give the lake pale blue reflections, the ferns several greens and the clouds the lightest blue-grey. Work from the top blossoms downward, using broad colour on each four-lobed leaf and careful short strokes on the butterfly. Leave the flower cup outlines clear and keep the distant woodland softer than the central trunk. The finished page should make the tall form, four-lobed leaves and tulip-like flowers easy to spot.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.