Do you think that possibly you have a hybrid Rick I wander. The only reason that I am saying that is that they usually take 50 plus years to bloom the first time and live to be well over 250 years some of them and longer. I know the hybrid that is mixed with the popular tree and looks the same as a tulip tree does will bloom in 10 years if you are lucky.......
This one here bloomed on it 50th birthday...........
the only way they would know for sure here is to do DNA testing on the tree to see if is species or hybrid but the way it is blooming they say species..........
I have seen some hybrid trees that are grafted and to be honest a far better way to appreciate the tree is for it to bloom sooner.
Since it is a bendable hardwood and also very important to bees and other animals that feed on the pods.........they want them to live out a long life I guess.......and going with the species like the one at the house here.
So much of this to a beginner person is way over my head..........lol.
In order for the tree to be considered a true seed tree they would prefer two of them close together so they could pollinate between the 2 trees instead of just self pollination but it is looking like there is no other tulip tree for miles around here..........although I have some young ones that I am hoping at the bottom of the tree are not just from the root system and can be planted out somewhere.....
