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Tilia americana (American Basswood)

American Linden, American Basswood, American Lime, Lime Tree, Bee Tree

Tilia americana, American Linden, American Basswood, American Lime, Deciduous Tree
Tilia americana, American Linden, American Basswood, American Lime, Deciduous Tree

Stately and imposing, Tilia americana (American Basswood) is a large deciduous tree adorned with an ovate-rounded crown boasting large ovate dark green leaves, up to 6 in. long (15 cm), turning, at best, yellow-green in the fall. In early summer, creamy-yellow, fragrant flowers appear in drooping cymes. Rich in nectar, they are highly attractive to bees and contribute to the production of a strongly flavored honey. The blossoms are followed by hard-shelled nutlets that ripen in late summer. The bark is smooth, shiny and gray to brown on young trees, becoming scaly, ridged and furrowed on mature trees. A beautiful shade and street tree.

  • Grows up to 50-80 ft. tall (15-24 m) and 30-50 ft. wide (9-15 m).
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained loams but tolerates dry soils and clay soils.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew, leaf spots and cankers.
  • Native to central and eastern North America.

Requirements

Hardiness 2 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Malvaceae
Genus Tilia
Common names Linden, Lime Tree, American Basswood
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 50' - 80' (15.2m - 24.4m)
Spread 30' - 50' (9.1m - 15.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, South Dakota, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Tilia cordata (Littleleaf Linden)
Tilia x europaea (European Linden)
Tilia platyphyllos (Large-Leaved Linden)
Tilia tomentosa (Silver Linden)
Tilia x euchlora (Caucasian Linden)
Tilia henryana (Henry’s Lime)

Recommended Companion Plants

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Dwarf Plumbago)
Muscari latifolium (Grape Hyacinth)
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (English Bluebells)
Allium ursinum (Wild Garlic)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 2 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Malvaceae
Genus Tilia
Common names Linden, Lime Tree, American Basswood
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 50' - 80' (15.2m - 24.4m)
Spread 30' - 50' (9.1m - 15.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, South Dakota, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Tilia (Linden) to pick?
Compare Now

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