Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata
A refined European shade tree beloved for its perfectly heart-shaped leaves and sweetly fragrant summer flowers that attract beneficial pollinators. This well-mannered tree maintains a neat, pyramidal shape without aggressive pruning and tolerates urban conditions exceptionally well. Its dense foliage provides excellent shade while the fragrant blooms create a delightful sensory experience in the garden.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–7
USDA hardiness
Height
50-60 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Littleleaf Linden in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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Littleleaf Linden · Zones 3–7
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Grafting. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are small, rounded, hairy nutlets that hang in pendulous clusters. Initially, they are pale green, but they change to light tan as they mature. They are 1/4 inch in diameter and appear in late summer.
Color: Cream/Tan. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Europe to Central Siberia and Northern Iran
Advantages
- +Attracts: Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in., Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- +Wildlife value: The nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. The bees make excellent honey from this tree. The softwood provides nesting sites for cavity dwelling birds
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Hosta
Thrives in partial shade created by linden, creates attractive understory planting
Astilbe
Enjoys dappled shade and moist soil conditions under linden canopy
Coral Bells
Tolerates shade well and adds colorful foliage beneath the tree
Wild Ginger
Native groundcover that spreads well in shaded areas under trees
Ferns
Natural woodland companions that thrive in the filtered light and leaf litter
Lungwort
Shade-loving perennial that complements the tree's spring blooming period
Hellebore
Evergreen perennial that provides winter interest under deciduous linden
Caladium
Colorful shade-tolerant annual that brightens understory plantings
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to linden trees and inhibits their growth
Large Conifers
Compete heavily for water and nutrients, create too much shade competition
Eucalyptus
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of nearby trees and plants
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally disease resistant
Common Pests
Aphids, Japanese beetle, linden borer
Diseases
Leaf spot, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt