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.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
60-80 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for American Linden in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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American Linden · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
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: 'Bailyard'Symetrical, 70 feet high by 40 feet wide. 'Boulevard'60 feet high with a limited spread, yellow fall foliage. 'Continental Appeal'50 ft tall, ascending branches, dense crown 'Redmond'40 to 60 feet high., 'Bailyard', 'Boulevard', 'Continental Appeal', 'Redmond'. 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
Bloom time: Spring, 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.
History & Origin
Origin: Central and eastern North America.
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Drought, Dry Soil, Fire, Pollution, Wind
- +Wildlife value: This plant provides nectar for pollinators and is a larval host plant for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see it during its three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights March-September in the north. Seeds eaten by birds and squirrels. Bees and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers.
- +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
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
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