Tulip poplars are commonly found throughout the American South. The bark of the tree is brown and fragrant, while the interior wood is a cream white color. The buds that form over winter are dark red. The flowers bloom in May and have a greenish-yellow color. As the flowers open up, orangish colors are mixed into the pastel-yellow petals. The fruits are a small, light-brown cone. The leaves have a deep-green hue and feature four points with shallow indents.