Tilia americana

Common Names

American Linden, American Basswood, Basswood, Linden, Bee Tree, Lime Tree, Linn, White Basswood

Summary

American basswood, native to central and eastern North America, is a large deciduous tree typically 60–80 feet tall with an ovate-rounded crown, it has large heart-shaped leaves, dark green above and pale beneath, and in June bears fragrant pale yellow flowers arranged in hanging cymes with a leaflike bract, nectar-rich blossoms attract bees and yield honey, followed by small gray nutlets, the trunk bears gray-brown bark with shallow ridges, the tree often sprouts at the base forming clumps, and the wood is soft, light, and easily worked for carving, boxes, furniture, and pulp, it prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams and grows best in full sun to part shade, tolerates drought once established and a range of soils, though urban plantings may require care due to size, hardy zones 2–8, it is commonly used as a shade or specimen tree, with pruning to develop a durable structure and removal of base sprouts recommended, propagation is by seed requiring stratification or by cuttings or grafting, uses include honey from nectar, tea from flowers, syrup from sap, and soft, light wood for carving, boxes, furniture, and pulp, it also provides wildlife value by supporting pollinators and offering habitat

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

600-960 inches

Spread

30-50 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loam

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Pale yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface with lighter green beneath.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate to fast growth, diameter growth about 3.0–4.8 mm/year (unmanaged ~3.0 mm/year, managed ~3.8–4.8 mm/year, ~4.6 mm/year with crop-tree release)

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Stump sprouts, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies, Attracts other pollinators