Basswood, American or American Linden
Tilia americana
Tiliaceae - Linden

Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; unevenly heart-shaped; 5" to 8" long and almost as wide; deciduous; coarsely serrate margin; pointed tip; glabrous; dark green above; paler beneath; petiole thin, 1" to 2" long.

Twigs/buds: Twigs usually zigzag; glabrous; green to red-gray. No terminal bud; lateral buds dark red or green, about 1/4" long, rounded, lopsided, usually with two visible scales.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect; light yellow; 1/3" to 1/2" wide; arranged in bunches of 5 to 10 attached by stalks to a light green, 3" to 4" long, leafy bract; appearing in late June or early July. Fruit a nut-like drupe; round; 1/3" to 1/2" in diameter; clustered; covered with fine pubescence; the bract drying out and turning light brown when the fruit matures in late summer.

Bark: Smooth and gray-green on young stems; later turning gray-brown, furrowed, with narrow, scaly ridges.

Wood: Important; sapwood white to pale brown; heartwood pale brown; light; soft; growth rings fairly distinct; diffuse-porous; rays not visible without a hand lens; used for novelties, excelsior, containers, carving, etc.

General: Native to most of the northern and eastern U.S. as far west as the eastern edge of the Great Plains. Does best in rich, moist woodlands and along river bottoms, and does well on soils with fairly high pH. Shade tolerant. Sucker (sprout) growth can be a problem.

Landscape Use: A popular large shade tree, with nice, fragrant flowers and pleasing foliage. Planted mostly as the cultivar 'Redmond' because of its strongly conical canopy form. I prefer the species, which has stronger branch attachment and a nice, wider canopy; a number of these old trees can be seen in older parts of Logan and other Utah towns. Free of most serious pests, though aphids can be a nuisance in some years. Zones 2-9.

Cultivars: 'Bailyard', 'Boulevard', 'Dakota' 'Douglas', 'Fastigiata', 'Lincoln', 'Redmond', 'Rosehill', 'Sentry', 'Wandell'.

Characteristics

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