Tulip tree or Liriodendron, also commonly known as yellow poplar, tulip-poplar, white-poplar, and whitewood, is one of the most attractive and tallest of eastern hardwoods. It is native to eastern North America from southern Ontario and Illinois eastward across southern New England and south to central Florida and Louisiana. It is fast-growing, without the common problems of weak wood strength and short life span often seen in fast-growing species. A large tree very often reaching over 100 feet tall and may reach 300 years of age on deep, rich, well-drained soils of forest coves. The wood has high commercial value because of its versatility and as a substitute for increasingly scarce softwoods in furniture and framing construction. Yellow-poplar is also valued as a honey tree, a source of wildlife food, and a shade tree for large areas.