The American lime tree tree ( Tilia americana ) is a large , fast - growing deciduous flowering tree diagram with fragrant yellowish - livid flowers , magnanimous ovate leave , and a vaulted crown . Also named American lime , the American basswood tree is a popular ornamental tone tree due to its dense foliage and spread canopy . Additionally , lime trees are popular with beekeepers due to the first-class honey bee produce from the blossom ’ ambrosia .

The American lime Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is the only native North American species in the genusTilia . Other tree species in the genusTiliaare get laid as linden tree . In Europe , linden treesare called lime tree diagram . Popular linden varieties include the rough-cut lime tree ( Tilia x europaea ) , silver linden ( Tilia tomentosa ) , and the trivial - leaf linden ( Tilia cordata ) .

This clause is a comprehensive guide to the native American basswood tree diagram . verbal description and pictures of American linden tree will facilitate identify this majestic shade tree .

What is American Basswood (American Linden) Tree?

American Basswood tree diagram

The American basswood is the only North American native metal money in theTiliagenus offlowering trees . The American linden is one of the fastest - growinghardwood treesin the US . American basswood grow for around 200 years and is often find growing in easterly and central North America .

Basswood Tree Leaves

Basswood tree diagram leaves

American linden tree leaves are distinctive heart - shaped leave of absence , placeable by their serrated edges and pointed tip . The linden leaves are asymmetrical — have in mind the base is somewhat lopsided . The leaves rise between 4 ” and 8 ” ( 10 – 20 cm ) long and up to 6 ” ( 15 cm ) wide . American basswood leaves are larger than the European basswood varieties .

The ovate , coarsely toothed basswood leafage are arranged alternately on branches . During the growing time of year , the foliage have a drab greenish upper side and light-colored wan - dark-green underside . In fall , the leaves of deciduous basswood trees reverse pale yellow to yellowish - green .

Basswood Tree Flowers

linden tree flower and above them are immature narrow folio - like bracts

American basswood flowers are one of the most identifiable feature of the tree . Basswood trees have bantam nectar - rich , fragrant yellowish - white blossoms that drop in clusters , attached to the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree by a strap - shape bract . Each bunch of basswood tree flush has 6 to 20 heyday , each measure out about 0.4 ” ( 1 atomic number 96 ) .

The long , wan , green leaf - like bracts above the flush clusters are the unique identifying feature of American basswood trees .

American basswood flowers bloom in other summertime and may persist until descent . After bloom , the heyday develop into basswood yield . These small , globular dark-green nutlets also produce in clusters on the ends of the dried tenacious , spit - shaped bracts .

Close up pictorial matter on basswood fruit ( nutlet )

American basswood flowers are famed for attracting honeybees . The nectar from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s flower produces in high spirits - quality honey . Many beekeepers even imbed basswood Tree because of their fragrant flowers and the excellent love bee make .

Basswood Tree Bark

lime tree tree diagram barque

American lime tree bark is name as gray to gray - brown , and sometimes , almost black . unripe basswood barque looks smooth and gray with fine ridgepole . As the tree matures , lime bark becomes darker and fissure , take on a rasping , scaly grain . you may blemish deep , atypical furrows running vertically on lime tree trees .

Basswood Tree Fruit

American basswood yield is a group of small round fruitcake - same ball , with each ballock measuring up to 0.4 ” ( 1 centimetre ) in diameter . The small rounded nuts farm in open clusters and have a blurry finishing . On some tree diagram , the basswood nuts look whitened ; on others , they are unripe . An identifying lineament of basswood fruit is the tongue - similar bracts that fruit bunch swing from .

Basswood Tree Identification

American basswood bract , flowers and folio

Identify American basswood trees by their clusters of creamy or yellowish fragrant flowers attached to long leaf - like bracts . A characteristic of basswoods is their large heart - shaped , asymmetrical leaves with coarsely serrated perimeter and pointed tips . Another identification feature of lime tree trees identification is their argent - gray barque on young tree that becomes rugged , unsmooth , and blue Robert Gray .

In landscapes , you’re able to spot linden trees by their ellipse to oblong - shaped crown lie of dense foliage and huge across-the-board ovate leaves .

Basswood Tree Uses

American linden forest has several uses due to its workability . linden tree timber is relatively diffuse and does n’t split well , and is a cheap type of wood for making furniture , wooden boxes , and cabinet . The American linden wood is also idealistic for carving .

linden tree are also a author of mellow - quality love . The rich nectar in the flowers attracts multitudes ofhoneybeesthroughout the summer . So delicious is the beloved that it ’s sold asbasswood beloved .

How to Care for Basswood Tree (American Linden)

To care for an American lime tree diagram , grow the cosmetic tree diagram in full Dominicus and moist ground with splendid drain . The beautiful American basswood tree diagram is blue - maintenance and requires footling to no pruning . Mulch around the trunk to engage in moisture and prevent weeds from growing . Only water the basswood tree during prolonged dry geological period .

Types of Basswood Trees (Tilia americana)

The primary metal money of basswood is the American basswood ( Tilia americana ) . There are also several cultivars in the species , each with its own unique growing feature .

American Basswood (Tilia americana)

American linden ( Tilia americana ) trees

The American lime tree is a tree diagram species in the linden tree genusTiliaand mallow ( hibiscus ) familyMalvaceae . The American lime ( lime tree ) is the most vulgar of theTiliaspecies in the US . It ’s a large deciduous cosmetic shade tree that boasts some of the largest leaves among native metal money .

Stately American basswood trees fly high in USDA zona 3 – 8 . However , they may also grow in shelter country of zone 2 . The impose tree with its vast spread rounded , pyramidal crown rise between 50 and 80 foot . ( 15 – 24 foot . ) tall and 30 to 50 ft . ( 9 – 15 m ) broad .

Due to the immense size of it of linden trees , you take plenty of elbow room to grow them in a backyard . The linden trees are popular as shade trees , tall secrecy hedges , and street trees . However , the ornamental landscape lime tree diagram are not large-minded to air contamination and urban conditions .

The American linden is among the great hardwood , deciduous trees in eastern and central North America . The tree is an important source of lumber in the Great Lake states . you could find the American lindens spring up as far west and north as Minnesota and east on the Atlantic coast . Toward the Confederate States , linden trees are found in certain area to Tennessee and North Carolina .

American linden tree leaves are some of the largest of all the broadleaf Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the US . The huge heart - determine folio are easy to distinguish with their rough , serrate margins , pointed bakshis , and prominent yellow veins . Some of the larger linden leaves are bigger than your hand . This characteristic of lime tree adds to their collection as shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

American basswood flowers are prized for their rich nectar and sweet fragrance . It ’s easy to spot lime tree trees when in bloom during the summer . bunch of fuzzy - looking globular bloom hang off foresighted bracts .

Small basswood fruits appear on the tree after the foliage has turned pale yellow and dropped in the fall . The brownish clusters of belittled roundish nuts dangle from brown , dried bracts .

Here is selective information about some of the most commonTilia americana(American basswood ) cultivars :

Carolina Basswood ( Tilia americanavar.caroliniana):This American basswood cultivar is lowly than the species tree , only grow between 50 and 80 foot . ( 15 – 24 m ) tall . The broad , serrate ovate leaves are less rounded and more diamond - shaped . Carolina basswoods typically develop on the southern east coast of the US from North Carolina to Florida .

Carolina basswood leaves are diamond shaped

Redmond Basswood ( Tilia americana‘Redmond’):The name feature of this basswood cultivar is its dense leafage and pyramidal embodiment . This linden grow up to 35 ft . ( 10 m ) marvellous .

White Basswood ( Tilia americanavar . heterophylla):The American linden has serrated leaves with off-white undersides , giving the tree ’s foliation a milklike appearance . You ’ll find these linden Tree acquire from Missouri to Alabama .

Boulevard American Basswood ( Tilia americana‘Boulevard’):This is a tall , narrow linden Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that grows up to 50 foot . ( 15 m ) . you may descry this tree due to its narrowly pyramidal growing .

Lincoln Linden ( Tilia americana‘Lincoln’):This American lime cultivar has a rounded , pyramidal shape and dense , blue greenish leaf . The linden Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree grow up to 35 ft . ( 10 m ) tall and 25 ft . ( 7.5 m ) wide .

Legend American Basswood ( Tilia americana‘DTR 123’):This basswood is identified by its broadly pyramidical growth and glossy , dark green foliage . In winter , the cultivar has smart red wintertime buds and twig .

American Basswood (Tilia americana) Care Guide

American basswood trees are giant specter trees , popular in ample residential garden landscapes . get ’s look in more item at how to care for these majestic ornamental trees .

Where to Plant American Basswood Tree

Grow American basswood trees in a cheery part of your backyard . Basswood trees acquire easily when they get at least six hr of sun daily . However , the trees will also withstand some shade .

When choosing a location to plant a basswood tree , remember that this is an imposing decorative tree . American basswoods develop up to 80 foot . ( 24 m ) grandiloquent and 50 ft . ( 15 m ) wide .

The good clip to plant an American linden tree is in the fall . Plant the bare root tree diagram in a hole so that that soil line is in line with the flat coat . Fill in the empty space with organically rich soil and pee well . For the first three month , water a fresh - plant lime tree once or twice a week . mulch around the luggage compartment also helps shut away in moisture to the ground .

The Best Soil for Growing American Linden Trees

American basswood trees grow advantageously in neutral to alkaline soils . However , they will perform well in more or less acidic filth . As long as the atomic number 7 - athirst tree catch enough moisture and sunlight , it should grow well in most landscapes .

How to Water American Basswood Trees

American lime tree are comparatively tolerant of drought . For the basswood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to flourish , it ’s essential to keep the primer moist but not soggy . During peculiarly dry spells , water the filth on a regular basis to keep it moist . However , during other time , you do n’t need to supply extra pee .

To produce the ideal condition for the linden Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , add 4 ” ( 10 centimeter ) of mulch around the root area . Keep a space of about 2 ” ( 5 cm ) barren from mulch around the trunk to prevent rot .

American Basswood Growth Rate

American basswood trees are tight - growing , deciduous tree that originate 2 ft . ( 0.6 m ) per year . On average , American basswood trees take 20 years to arise 20 or 30 ft . ( 6 – 9 thousand ) magniloquent . A mature basswood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree finally grows between 50 and 80 ft . ( 15 – 24 m ) high .

How to Fertilize American Basswood Tree

American lime tree trees necessitate plenitude of N in the earth to maturate better . For newly planted basswood trees , put a level of constitutive compost around the root theme . About 1 ” to 2 ” ( 2.5 – 5 cm ) should be okay . rotten manure is also first-class for linden trees as it ’s rich in atomic number 7 .

fecundate a basswood tree diagram every one to two years in spring , ordinarily in April or May . If the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has grown at least 6 ” ( 15 centimetre ) since the former year , you may not need to fertilise it .

If you decide to use a slow - release plant food , then choose one with an NPK evaluation of 18 - 6 - 12 . hold the fertilizer to a R-2 adequate to at least twice the height of the basswood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .

Pruning American Basswood Trees

American basswood trees farm in residential landscape benefit from occasional pruning . Every winter , remove weak or dead branches from the linden tree . It ’s also a good idea to garnish branches that grow toward the crown ’s centre .

Prune young , fresh planted lime tree diagram in the summer to encourage newfangled growth . During the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s first four years , remove any branches that maturate towards the center of the crownwork or that rub on other branch .

It may be necessary to remove any suckers that develop from the ground to prevent multiple root from farm .

Pests Affecting Basswood Tree Growth

Japanese beetlesare common pests impact American linden trees . However , linden looper caterpillars , basswoodleaf miners , and fallwebwormscan all infest linden tree diagram . Usually , these usual folio birdfeeder will attack leafage , causing leave to look unsightly .

Additionally , aphidscan feed on modest twig and produce a sticky honeydew substance that can attractants to your garden . Honeydew can be a reasonableness for linden trees to develop sinister sooty moulding . Also , ascertain out for linden mites andscale insects .

Related reading : How to get rid of leaf miners .

Diseases Affecting American Basswood Trees

Fungal contagion such as anthracnose foliage blight and powdery mold can make basswood exit to wilt and drop from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree prematurely . Leaf blight front like black or browned smirch on leaves . You canspot the signs of powdery mildewby a white , flour - like center on leaf .

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