Liriodendron tulipifera or tulip poplar, one of my favorites and quite common here. Can be used in furniture production, but it is not good firewood as it is softer than most hardwoods. It is in the Magnolia family. Too bad most of the blooms are at the top, as I think they are quite spectacular.
Tulip tree is one of the tallest eastern trees. In the Smoky mountains you can visit immense tall old growth Tulip tree groves in a few of the less accessible coves up in the mountains that were never logged. This is a great street tree, shade tree, and found in the wild from Louisiana to new England. One of my favorites also.
