Tilia americana (American Basswood)
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.
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 | Tilia – Lindens |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall |
| Height | 50' – 80' (15m – 24m) |
| Spread | 30' – 50' (9m – 15m) |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| 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, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Drought, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |