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Is a Tulip Tree Good For Firewood?

is tulip tree good for firewood

If you’re familiar with the eastern United States, Tulip Trees are everywhere.  As a matter of fact, it’s the state tree of Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.  It also frequents the forests and rural areas of Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. 

Tulip Trees, otherwise known as American Tuliptrees or Yellow Poplars, are part of the Magnolia family.  This means they aren’t real poplars in the truest sense.  Tulip Trees are a flowering timber with a huge debate around whether they’re hardwood or softwood.

This is because of how easy it is to split and how often it’s used in woodcraft or architectural design.  But is Tulip Tree good for firewood?  It’s not the most ideal due to them burning quick and having a low heat output, but it isn’t uncommon for people to burn it as kindling or for a quick campfire.

Tulip Tree Characteristics

Understanding what a Tulip Tree looks like is the best way to not only determine you have the right tree but also to know how it burns, what it smells like and how much heat it gives.

Bark ; Wood

The wood is a light yellow-white to yellowish brown that deepens as it dries.  The sapwood is off-white but fades into a gray or light brown with heartwood that’s a yellow-green color. 

The fresh wood will sometimes have bright blue, purple, red or black mineral stains that appear in streaks.  During the drying process, it will turn to a pure brown color.

It has a fine, straight grain and the USA Forest Service rates it as softwood alongside other trees like fir, spruce and pine.  Tulip Trees grow fast, are not weak and live for about 50 years.

Fast Growing

Tulip Trees grow so fast that they can outcompete with other slow-growing trees and do well to repopulate deforested areas and other places ravaged by wildfires.  They are excellent in disturbed forests and untended fields, which make them great for environmental repair and can withstand pollution.

Wildlife Reliance

Only a few species of animals rely on the wood for sustenance like rabbits and deer.  Some birds will feast on the seeds and many species of birds use the wood to build nests.  But this means it will mostly go undisturbed by wildlife.

How Does Tulip Tree Burn?

There are several aspects to Tulip Trees that make them good for a fire.  It can serve two purposes when used for firewood:  reviving a dying fire and to start a fire.  It provides a beautiful atmosphere and a romantic ambience at a campsite, but it doesn’t last long.

Seasoning ; Splitting

It only takes around five months for it to season and lights up beautifully.  Once seasoned, it will split with great ease by way of a hand maul and hatchet.  This is one quality that makes it a choice above other woods for a campfire.

Heat Output

Tulip Trees burn very fast and do not produce a whole lot of heat.  On cord has about 18 BTUs (British Thermal Units) in a fire, so the heat output is less than desirable during the winter or in cooler weather.  It burns the same as Aspen but it’s a little better than Pine.  So, you should mix it with other longer burning woods like Oak.

Odor ; Smoke

Tulip tree has moderate smoke with a very light, sweet and aromatic smell.  Some people report a spicy undertone to the odor and others report a strong stink that wafts from the wood. 

The stink will depend on how dry the wood is when you use it.  If the blue, purple, red streaks are visible, expect it to smell bad.

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Considerations for Tulip Tree in a Fire

As with most timber, there are some things to consider before you cut, dry, save or burn Tulip Trees for firewood.

Popping ; Sparking

Even when well seasoned, Tulip Tree will pop and spark like fireworks which makes it best for use outside.  If you have to burn it indoors, use it in a wood burning stove or have a solid screen for your fireplace.  Do not leave it unattended, as with all fires.

Avoid burning green wood because of how waterlogged Tulip Tree is when fresh.  Not only does it spark and explode when seasoned, it puts on a real lightshow when still retaining some its original moisture.  This is because of how much pressure builds up in the water.  This creates steam that pushes against the compressed layers of wood.

Fungal ; Bacterial Issues

Don’t use the tree in a fire if you suspect it has a fungal infestation or residual water damage.  Even though Tulip Tree has no known toxicity or poison attached to it, any fungal or bacterial problems can lead to lung issues and breathing complaints when burned.

The downfall to stockpiling this wood for future use is that it will begin to soften and rot after a year or so.  This means that once it’s seasoned, you have to burn it soon or it will go bad.

Final Thoughts

Tulip Trees are a great and bountiful tree that is easy to burn, quick to season and readily available.  But, it doesn’t burn very long or hot in a fire.  So, it’s better to use it to start a fire than for an entire one.  The Tulip Tree is ideal for quick campfires or for any fire during the summertime. 

If you’re looking for ambiance or if you only need a brief fire, use the wood to its full potential.  But, it’s not wise to rely on it only for heating or cooking.  You have to mix it with something else to have a fire for more utilitarian purposes. 

Of course, if you’re camping or hiking in the Hoosier National Forest and all you have is Tulip Tree, it will work in a pinch and do the job.  But, if there is something else available to you, like Oak, you should use that instead.

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