American Linden

Tilia americana

A fast-growing native shade tree beloved for its heart-shaped leaves and incredibly fragrant summer flowers that attract bees from miles around. Also known as Basswood, this stately tree creates dense, cooling shade and produces clusters of small, sweet-scented yellow flowers in late June. The smooth bark and uniform growth habit make it an excellent choice for street plantings and large yards.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

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Zones

3–8

USDA hardiness

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Height

60-80 feet

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Planting Timeline

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Transplant

Showing dates for American Linden in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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American Linden · Zones 3–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing30-50 feet from structures

SoilRich, moist, well-drained soil

pH6.0-7.5

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonSpring and Summer

FlavorN/A

ColorBright green heart-shaped leaves, yellow fall color

Size60-80 feet tall, 40-50 feet spread

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	June – August	—	—
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	—
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	—
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	—
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	—
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	—

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 24-60 feet, more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The fruit is a small, globose, downy, hard and dry cream-colored nutlet about the size of a pea suspended on a stalk attached to persistent bracts that act as wings to help them be distributed by the wind. In North Carolina, fruits are available from July to August.

Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Nut.

Harvest time: Summer

Edibility: Dried flowers are used to make teas but over-use can cause heart damage. Syrup can be made from the sweet tree sap. Honey from this tree is prized for flavor. Leaves can be used in salads.

Storage & Preservation

American Linden is a shade tree and does not require storage or preservation in the traditional sense. However, seeds can be collected in fall and stored in cool, dry conditions (32-41°F) with low humidity. Stratification is recommended: store seeds moist in refrigeration for 30 days before spring planting. Freshly collected seeds can also be sown immediately in autumn for natural cold stratification over winter. Properly stored seeds remain viable for 1-2 years when kept in sealed containers in cool conditions.

History & Origin

Origin: Central and eastern North America.

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
+Edible: Dried flowers are used to make teas but over-use can cause heart damage. Syrup can be made from the sweet tree sap. Honey from this tree is prized for flavor. Leaves can be used in salads.
+Low maintenance

Companion Plants

Shade-tolerant perennials are the natural fit under a linden's canopy. Hosta, Astilbe, Wild Ginger, and Ferns all handle the dry shade that develops under a large tree's drip line — in our zone 7 Georgia summers, the soil beneath a mature linden can shed rain rather than absorb it, so plants that evolved under a forest canopy do far better there than sun-lovers that'll just sulk. Coral Bells and Trillium fill in the mid-layer without competing for the deep moisture the linden's roots are pulling from 3-4 feet down. Serviceberry makes sense at the canopy edge: it blooms weeks before the linden leafs out fully, draws early-season pollinators, and its shallow root system doesn't tangle with the linden's.

Black Walnut is the one to keep well away — it produces juglone, a root-exuded compound that stresses or kills a wide range of plants, and a young linden in its zone of influence may decline before you figure out why. Pine is a different problem: decades of needle drop push soil pH below 6.0, outside the range lindens tolerate. Tomatoes don't harm the linden directly, but they're juglone-sensitive themselves and belong nowhere near the root zone of any walnut-family planting anyway.

Plant Together

Hosta

Thrives in the dappled shade provided by linden, creates attractive understory planting

Astilbe

Enjoys partial shade conditions under linden canopy, adds colorful flower spikes

Wild Ginger

Native groundcover that tolerates deep shade and helps suppress weeds

Coral Bells

Shade-tolerant perennial that provides colorful foliage contrast year-round

Ferns

Natural woodland companions that thrive in the moist, shaded environment

Trillium

Native spring ephemeral that blooms before linden leafs out, creating seasonal interest

Serviceberry

Compatible native understory tree that provides wildlife food and spring flowers

Impatiens

Shade-loving annual that provides continuous color in filtered light conditions

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to linden trees and inhibits their growth

Tomatoes

Cannot tolerate the dense shade cast by mature linden trees

Pine Trees

Create acidic soil conditions that American Linden does not prefer

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that can inhibit growth of nearby trees

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Generally disease resistant

Common Pests

Aphids, Japanese beetles, linden borers

Diseases

Leaf blight, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt

Troubleshooting American Linden

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Sticky residue on leaves and branches, often with a black sooty coating, late spring through summer

Likely Causes

Aphid colonies (commonly linden aphid, Eucallipterus tiliae) feeding on new growth and excreting honeydew
Sooty mold (Capnodium spp.) colonizing the honeydew deposits

What to Do

1.Blast colonies off with a strong stream of water from a hose — repeat every 3-4 days until pressure drops
2.If the tree is young enough to reach, spray with insecticidal soap, making sure to coat the undersides of leaves
3.On established trees, encourage parasitic wasps and lacewings by leaving flowering plants nearby; heavy aphid years usually self-correct by July

Ragged holes chewed in leaf edges and between veins, skeletonized patches, appearing mid-June through August

Likely Causes

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) — lindens are among their preferred feeding trees
Adult beetles aggregate, so damage compounds fast once a few land

What to Do

1.Hand-pick beetles into soapy water early morning when they're sluggish — effective on young trees under 15 feet
2.Do NOT set Japanese beetle traps near the tree; University of Kentucky Extension research shows traps draw in more beetles than they ever catch
3.Apply beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) to the surrounding lawn soil in late August to target grubs before they overwinter

Sawdust-like frass at the base of the trunk or packed into bark crevices, with small entry holes visible in the outer bark

Likely Causes

Linden borer (Saperda vestita) — larvae tunnel into the cambium layer, girdling branches or the main trunk over time
Drought-stressed trees are significantly more vulnerable; a linden pulling from dry soil puts out chemical signals that attract egg-laying adults

What to Do

1.Water deeply during dry stretches — a slow trickle for 45-60 minutes at the drip line does more than a quick surface spray
2.Prune and destroy any infested branches below the entry point; bag the wood before moving it off-site
3.Protect bark from mower and string-trimmer wounds, which are the primary egg-laying sites for adult borers

White powdery coating on leaf surfaces, most noticeable in late summer, sometimes with curling or distortion on new growth

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe tiliae) — thrives in the warm days and cool nights of August and September, especially where canopy airflow is poor
Dense planting within 20 feet that walls off air movement around the crown

What to Do

1.On a mature linden, cosmetic powdery mildew in late season rarely warrants treatment — those leaves are coming down in 6-8 weeks regardless
2.For young trees where protecting new growth matters, apply a potassium bicarbonate-based fungicide at first sign of white patches
3.At planting time, site the tree at least 30 feet from walls or other large-canopied trees to avoid the crowding that makes this worse year after year

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does American Linden grow?▼

American Linden is a fast-growing shade tree, typically adding 24-36 inches of growth per year under ideal conditions. It can reach maturity of 60-80 feet tall within 20-30 years, making it one of the quicker-growing shade trees for establishing cooling canopy cover in landscapes.

When do American Linden trees flower?▼

American Linden produces fragrant yellow flowers in late June through early July. These small, sweet-scented blooms appear in drooping clusters and are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. The flowers emit a distinctive honey-like fragrance that draws beneficial insects from considerable distances.

Is American Linden good for street planting?▼

Yes, American Linden is excellent for street plantings. Its smooth bark, uniform growth habit, and strong structure make it ideal for urban landscapes. It tolerates moderate compacted soils and air pollution better than many shade trees, though it prefers rich, moist, well-drained conditions for optimal performance.

How much sun does American Linden need?▼

American Linden thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring 4-6+ hours of direct sunlight daily. While it performs best with ample sun for dense canopy development, it can tolerate partial shade conditions. Consistent sun exposure promotes better flowering and faster growth rates.

What pests affect American Linden trees?▼

Common pests include aphids, Japanese beetles, and linden borers. Aphids may cause honeydew dripping; Japanese beetles feed on foliage; linden borers tunnel in the trunk. Most infestations are manageable with proper tree care, pruning affected branches, and occasional pest management if populations become severe.

Can American Linden grow in containers?▼

While American Linden can start in containers as a young sapling, it is not ideally suited for permanent container growing due to its mature size of 60-80 feet. Young trees may be containerized for 1-2 years before transplanting to the ground, but long-term success requires in-ground planting.