The tulip poplar is the official state tree of Kentucky, chosen in 1956 but not written into law until 1994 due to a clerical error. It has historical significance in the state, with early settlers using the wood for building and shelter during skirmishes. Debate arose in 1973 over whether the Kentucky coffee tree should be the state tree, but it was eventually decided that the tulip poplar was most valuable to the state’s residents throughout history.
The official state tree of Kentucky is the tulip poplar, or Liriodendron tulipifera. This tree is a type of magnolia that likely gets its name from its yellowish flowers, which, to some, resemble tulip blossoms. The tulip poplar was first designated a Kentucky state tree in 1956, but, most likely due to a clerical error, the state legislative decision was never written. This oversight is held responsible for a 40-year debate on the issue, in which one side promoted the designation of the Kentucky coffee tree as the official state tree symbol, while the other side promoted the designation of the tulip poplar as the official state tree. . Finally, on March 9, 1994, the tulip poplar was once again chosen as the state tree of Kentucky.
Tulip poplar can be found growing throughout the eastern United States and can reach about 100 feet (30.5 meters) tall. They often thrive in mountainous areas, although these trees generally need direct sunlight to reach their full growth potential.
Those Kentuckians who have supported the designation of the tulip poplar as Kentucky’s state tree believe that the tree has historical significance in the state. Early settlers are said to have preferred the wood of these trees for building materials, as it is generally soft and easy to manipulate with tools. Because tulip poplar trees usually grow quite fast and can have large, hollow trunks, early settlers may have sheltered in them during skirmishes with Native Americans. The wood from these trees was also used to build saltpeter mining equipment in Kentucky’s Mammoth Caverns.
Debate over the designation of tulip poplar as the state tree of Kentucky. The Kentucky General Assembly adopted the tulip poplar as the official state tree of Kentucky in 1956, but they apparently forgot to write the law. This oversight surfaced in 1973 and the General Assembly was asked to reconsider. Many felt that the Kentucky coffee tree, known for its attractive wood and aromatic seeds, should have been designated the official state tree instead of tulip poplar.
However, it was eventually pointed out that most officially state-sanctioned writings, educational texts, and reference materials already listed the tulip poplar as the state tree of Kentucky, due to the 1956 ruling. If the official designation of the state tree were to be modified, these materials would have to be reprinted, at considerable cost to the state government. It was further decided that the tulip poplar had probably been most valuable to the residents of the state throughout history. The matter was finally resolved in 1994, when the tulip poplar was once again chosen as the official state tree.
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