Tilia americana

Tilia americana

Common name: American Lime, American Linden, Basswood

Description: This stately North American native tree is distinguished by its impressive large, heart-shaped leaves that can reach up to 20cm across, creating bold textural impact in the landscape. The fresh green foliage provides excellent dense shade throughout summer before turning clear yellow in autumn. In early to mid-summer, the tree produces drooping clusters of small, fragrant creamy-yellow flowers with distinctive leaf-like bracts. The honey-scented blooms are exceptionally attractive to bees and other pollinators. The naturally broad, rounded crown develops a majestic presence suitable for parks, large gardens, or as a specimen tree. The smooth grey bark becomes more furrowed with age, adding winter character to this impressive ornamental and wildlife-friendly tree.

Other benefits: large bold foliage, fragrant flowers highly attractive to bees, excellent shade tree, clear yellow autumn colour, majestic stature, wildlife-friendly

Wildlife attraction: bees (flowers are exceptionally valuable to pollinators), butterflies, moths, nesting birds

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 6m x 4m

Position: full sun to partial shade; requires space to develop its broad crown

Soil pH: adaptable; grows well in neutral to slightly acidic soils; tolerates slightly alkaline conditions

Moisture: moderate to high watering when young; prefers consistently moist but well-drained soil; less drought tolerant than European limes

Winter hardiness: exceptionally hardy to -30°C and below