American Basswood

Tilia americana (TIL-ee-uh a-mer-ih-KAY-nah)

Family: Tiliaceae Native Canopy (>40 ft)

American linden is a useful large shade tree in the Malvaceae (mallow) family that is found in all areas of North Carolina. It is native to eastern North America but found especially in the mountains where it is a common and valuable timber tree. Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, it can reach heights of 60 to 80 feet with a straight trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter. It is easy to transplant, is tolerant of clay soil, and adaptable to dry, rocky soils. It has some drought tolerance once established. This tree prefers fertile moist well-drained loams. Fall color is pale yellow-green. As an amazing wildlife tree, it attracts lightning bugs and is a larval plant for red-spotted purple and mourning cloak butterflies. Its flowers are so attractive to honeybees you may hear the tree buzzing from several feet away. The nectar makes excellent-tasting honey. Its seeds are eaten by birds and squirrels. Bees and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers. Cymes of fragrant, pale yellow late spring flowers are quite showy. This tree is great for use as a shade tree or street tree but does not tolerate urban conditions. It can also be pruned to form a flowering hedge. Seasons of Interest: Bark: Winter Bloom: Spring and Summer Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall Fruit: Summer Quick ID Hints: large, deciduous tree, maturing to a height of 60 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 60 feet wide gray, furrowed bark large, dark green leaves on the upper surface, and matte gray on the undersides five-inch-long drooping clusters of fragrant yellow blooms from May to July fruit is a small, downy, hard, dry, creamy-colored nutlet Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. You may see linden aphids, borers, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, caterpillars, and scale. In hot, dry conditions spider mites may pose a significant problem. While infrequent, Verticillium wilt can be fatal. Powdery mildew, leaf spots, and cankers are other diseases that rarely occur. Particularly sensitive to heat and soil compaction. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 67 attributes.