The tuliptree is Indiana’s state tree. Although often called tulip poplar, the tulip tree is not a poplar. It is a member of the Magnolia family. Fast-growing and tallest of the North American hardwoods, the wood is relatively soft and the trunk is tall and straight. In the spring, it produces tulip-like yellow and orange flowers that bloom in their upper branches. It has a distinct leaf shape that represents tulip flowers and provides a vibrant yellow color in the fall. The tree provides food in many forms to animals. Young trees are browsed by white-tailed deer and rabbits in fall and winter. In spring, their flowers provide nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds. Their seeds also provide food for both birds and mammals, such as finches, cardinals, quail, mice, red squirrels, gray squirrels and rabbits.