Tilia

Linden
Tiliaceae
Deciduous, Trees

Dense trees. Stately good looks, moderate growth rate. All have irregularly heart-shaped leaves and small, fragrant, yellowish-white flowers in drooping clusters in late spring, early summer. Flowers develop into nutlets, each with an attached papery bract. Best in deep, rich,moist soil. In cold-winter areas, fall color varies from negligible to good yellow. Young trees need shaping, older ones only corrective pruning. Aphids can cause honeydew, which drips disagreeably and encourages sooty mold.

Tilia cordata

From Europe. Dense pyramid to 30–50 ft. tall and 15–30 ft.wide. Leaves 1/2 –3 in. long and as wide (or wider), dark green above, silvery beneath. Excellent lawn or street tree. Given room to develop its crown, it can be a fine patio shade tree (but expect bees in flowering season). Can be sheared into hedges. Very tolerant of city conditions.

Tilia tomentosa

Native to Europe, western Asia. Grows 40–50 ft. tall, 20–30 ft. wide. Leaves are 3–5 in. long and about as wide, light green above, silvery beneath; they turn and ripple in the slightest breeze. More tolerant of heat, drought than other species.

Tilia x euchlora

Hybrid derived from Tilia cordata. To 25–35 ft. (perhaps eventually to 50 ft.) tall, almost as wide. Slightly pendulous branches. Rich glossy green leaves have paler undersides, reach 2–4 in. long and wide. Casts more open shade than T. cordata.