What do you consider "manageable"? There are dwarf tulip trees but even these grow to a significant size (30+ feet). You might be better off with the magnolia although some varieties of saucer get pretty large as well. Look for one called 'Lilliputian' or any number of hybrids that will stay significantly smaller than 25-30' (the "Girls", 'Rose Marie', 'Daybreak', etc).

In general, pruning to maintain a tree at a size much less than it is genetically inclined to achieve is not a good idea. It opens up a lot of issues with excessive suckering, altered/disfigured growth habit and pest and disease problems.

The Europeans do this strange to me thing called pollarding I think. Perhaps Resin or someone who uses the (its actually superior!) metric system can chime in.

I would look for a cultivar as described above.

my tulip poplars grow 3 to 5 feet per year...

forget about them .. IMHO ... you will never beat one back with a stick ...

a saucer mag.. would be much more restricted.. and more easily kept to a size you might like..

but whatever you do.. it does NOT involve 'topping' .. or giving them a hair cut.. you will have to learn how to prune.. ON LADDERS ...

do you really want to set yourself up for a lifetime of pruning ... as i get older.. i sometimes wonder what the heck i was thinking 10 years back ...

ken

I've never seen a pollarded Liriodendron. It's usually used either for producing long straight growth for various purposes e.g willow osiers or as a way of controlling street trees e.g. Platanus and Tilia.

I keep a tree pollarded. It's doing great but it's a lot of effort and you have to know what you are doing. Don't even go there with a liriodendron. They can get immense, and grow fast. As said...please define manageable size on the magnolia.

"Jane" is a good minature saucer magnolia...i think they max out at 12 feet.

'Jane' is one of the "Girls" hybrids mentioned earlier. But it is not a saucer magnolia - different flower shape altogether. Sort of a cross between a tulip and a star magnolia. But very attractive and a good, "manageable" size :-)