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On March 14, 1947, the tulip tree was adopted as the state tree of Tennessee, which has more state forests than any other Southern state. I’ve found very little information concerning the tulip poplar’s adoption. But the reasons for its adoption are summed up in the state tree bill:

PUBLIC ACTS, 1947
CHAPTER NO. 204
SENATE BILL NO. 679
(By White, Cochran)

AN ACT to name a state tree for the State of Tennessee.

WHEREAS, No tree has ever been officially designated as a State Tree for the State of Tennessee, and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the State deems it appropriate that such designation be made at this time, and it is generally recognized throughout the State that the Tulip Poplar grows from one end of the State to the other, and

WHEREAS, The poplar was extensively used by the pioneers of the State to construct houses, barns and other necessary farm buildings in the form of slabs or hewn logs and later in the form of sawn lumber, popular being more extensively used than any other species of wood:

Now, Therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the Tulip Poplar is hereby designated and adopted as the Official State Tree of the State of Tennessee.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed: March 13, 1947.

George O. Benton, Speaker of the Senate.

W. B. Lewallen, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Approved: March 14, 1947.

Jim McCord, Governor.

Tennessee’s official poem, Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee, mentions “Forests Dense and Wild Flowers Galore.” Its official public school song, My Tennessee, speaks of “wooded hills” and “whisp’ring trees.” And any Tennessean who wins a Distinguished Service Medal receives a display case framed with wood from the tulip poplar.

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