Tilia

( TILL - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs is commonly called Linden, Basswood, or Lime Tree, and includes densely foliaged trees that are quite handsome and used commonly as shade trees. These large trees need full sun and regular water to perform well in the landscape, and produce fragrant yellow-white flower clusters in late spring through early summertime. Leaves are green and heart shaped, and nuts that follow flowers have papery bracts. Fall color varies depending on the species, but is typically yellow-green to golden. Use Tilia trees in the landscape as shade trees, along streets or driveways, as urban trees or screening plants, or as pleaching specimens. 

tilia Species and Varietals

The genus Tilia is a member of the plant family Malvaceae and includes 30 species of trees and large shrubs. Linden trees grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3-8 or Sunset growing zones 1-17, though this varies somewhat depending on the species grown. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Tilia americana (American Linden, Basswood, American Basswood, American Bastwood, American Lime Tree)
This species is native to eastern North America and reaches up to 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 25 feet wide at maturity. Leaves are dark green, turning pale yellow to yellow-green in fall before dropping. Trunks are straight and these trees have  narrow crowns. Cultivars of this species include 'Redmond' (dense, broadly pyramidal), 'Boulevard' (50 feet tall and 25 feet wide), 'American Sentry' (45 feet tall and 30 feet wide with Japanese Beetle resistance), 'Bailyard' (to 75 feet tall and 40 feet wide) and 'Contintenal Appeal' (50 feet tall and 30 feet wide with striking white leaf undersides). This species is suited for USDA hardiness zones 2-8.

Tilia amurensis (Amur Lime, Amur Linden, Lipamurskaya, Липа амурская, Purple Linden, Purple Basswood, Zǐ Duàn, 紫椴, Pi-namu, 피나무)
These trees are native to Russia, China, and Korea, where they are used as a timber trees and occasionally planted as street trees in cooler-climate areas. These medium-sized canopy trees reach up to 100 feet tall when mature. It has a pyramidal, oval, or broadly rounded crown with a straight, upright trunk. Bark is grey-brown and develops shallow vertical furrows over time. Fall color is pale green to pale yellow. Amur Lime trees are suited for growing in USDA hardiness zones 3-7.

Tilia chingiana (Ching's Lime, Ching's Linden, Short-Haired Linden, Short-Woody Lime, Duǎn Máo Duàn, 短毛椴, Lú Shān Duàn, 庐山椴)
This species of deciduous tree has grey, smooth bark and reaches about 50 feet tall when mature. Leaves are heart-shaped. Native to China, this species is named for Chinese botanist Ching Ren-Chang. These trees bloom in June and July, producing cream to white blossoms. Fall color is yellow. Ching's Lime trees are suited for cultivating in USDA hardiness zones 7 and 8.

Tilia cordata (Little-Leaf Linden, Small-Leaved Lime, Pry Tree, Little Basswood, Baste-Tree, Littleleaf Linden)
This European native forms a dense pyramid 30-50 feet tall and 15-30 feet wide, with dark green leaves that have silvery undersides. Fall color is pale yellow, chartreuse, or yellow-green. These plants are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and can be pruned into a hedge, used as a patio tree, or can line streets. These are also great shade trees for lawn areas. Cultivars of this species include 'Corinthian' (45 feet tall and 15 feet wide), 'Greenspire' (oval to pyramid-shaped canopy), 'Shamrock' (symmetrical pyramid shape), and 'Summer Sprite' (to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide at a slow growth rate). This species can locally scape cultivation and spread via root suckers or abundant seeds in North America, but is not considered invasive.

​Tilia x euchlora (Crimean Linden, Caucasian Linden, Caucasian Lime, Zirfon, Zeyzafun, زیرفون)
This hybrid species is a natural garden origin cross native to Crimea and northern Iran. Individual trees reach up to 25 to 35 feet tall (eventually 50 feet if given space), and almost as wide. Branches are somewhat pendulous and leaves are glossy green on top, pale underneath, turning pale yellow to yellow-green in fall. This species is a cross between Tilia cordata (Littleleaf Linden) and Tilia dasystyla (Caucasian Linden).

​Tilia x flavescens (Tilia cordata 'Glenleven') (Hybrid Linden, Hybrid Basswood, Glenleven Linden)
This hybrid quickly reaches 65 feet tall and 40 feet wide, with a loose, open pyramid or oval shape. It is a result of a cross between species Tilia americana (American Linden) and Tilia cordada (Littleleaf Linden). 'Glenleven' is the main nursery-sold cultivar of this species. Leaves turn a bright golden-yellow in fall. Hybrid Basswood trees are suited for growing in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.

Tilia japonica (Japanese Lime, Japanese Linden, Shinanoki, シナノキ, 科の木, Bodaiju, ボダイジュ, 菩提樹, Huá Dōng Duàn, 华东椴, Shina)
This species is native to China and Japan, where it grows amongst mountain ranges. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 6-8 and is commonly grown as an ornamental tree, reaching up to 50 to 65 feet tall and 40 to 50 feet wide in cultivated landscapes. In their native habitats, they can grow to be over 100 feet tall. These trees are harvested for their timber, which is used for furniture and veneers. It is the official tree of the city of Nagano, Japan. The main cultivar of this species is 'Ernest Wilson', prized for its graceful habit, attractive foliage, and reliable yellow fall color.

Tilia mongolica (Mongolian Linden, Mongolian Lime, Lipamongol'skaya, Липа монгольская, Meng gu duan, 蒙古椴, Small-Leaved Linden, Xiao Ye Duan, 小叶椴, White-Barked Linden, Bai Pi Duan, 白皮椴, Mi Duan, 米椴)
This species is native to Russia, northern China and Mongolia, and forms tree to 40 feet tall and about as wide at maturity. Leaves are toothed and glossy green, turning yellow in fall. 'Harvest Gold' (Tilia x mongolica) is the main cultivar of this species, which is a hybrid with Tilia cordata (Littleleaf Linden). Mongolian Linden is suited for USDA hardiness zones 3b-8.

Tilia oliveri (Chinese White Lime, Oliver's Lime, Oliver's Linden, Fěn Duàn, 粉椴, Hubei Linden, èduàn, 鄂椴)
This species of Tilia is native to central and southeastern regions of China and is suited for cultivating in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. It forms a tree to 40 to 50 feet tall and 26 feet wide at maturity. In their natural habitat, they can reach up to 85 feet tall. Leaves are green, broadly heart-shaped and covered in dense white hairs underneath. Flowers are produced in drooping clusters and have a sweet fragrance.

Tilia platyphyllos (Large-Leaved Lime, Large-Leaved Linden, липа крупнолистная, Broad-Leaved Lime, липа широколистная, Bigleaf Linden, Eurwernen, Gwaglwyfen, Pisgen, Lypa Shyrokolysta, липа широколиста, Tilo de Hoja Grande, Tila, Tejo, Tellera, Tilero)
This species of deciduous trees are native to a region that spans from central and southern Europe (England, Wales, Ukraine, Crimea, Spain) to southwestern and western Asia (Turkey, the Caucasus, and northern Iran). Trees have a narrow, dome-shaped crown and green foliage, reaching up to 130 feet tall when mature. Small, fragrant yellow-white flowers are present in spring and summertime. They are used steeped in warm water to make a tea called Tila. This species is suited for growing in USDA hardiness zones 3-7. Cultivars include 'Aurea' (with golden-yellow leaves), 'Fastigiata' (with a tight, upright growth habit), 'Laciniata' (with deeply lobed foliage), 'Rubra' (with red wintertime twigs), and 'Tortuosa' (with interestingly twisted and contorted branches).

Tilia tomentosa (Silver Linden, Silver Lime, European White Lime, White Lime, Srebrna Lipa, Сребърна липа, Srebrnolisna Lipa, Bijela Lipa, Tei Argintiu, Tei Alb, Ezüsthárs, Gümüşi ıhlamur, Bli i Argjendtë, Flamouria, φλαμουριά, Tilio, τίλιο, Argyrophylli Filyra, αργυρόφυλλη φιλύρα, φιλύρα η γναφαλώδης, Lypa Povstysta, липа повстиста)
This species performs best in USDA hardiness zones 4-7 or Sunset growing zones 2-21 and is native to western Asia and Europe (Balkan Peninsula, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Ukraine). It reaches 40-50 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide, with light green leaves that are silvery underneath. Cultivars of this species include 'Sterling' (with silvery new foliage and a great wintertime silhouette), 'Brabant' (with a strong central stem and symmetrical crown), and 'Petiolaris' (also called Pendent or Weeping Silver Lime).

Caring for tilia

Tilia trees prefer to be planted in a location in the landscape that receives full sun. They also prefer to have good air circulation, so ensure that there is enough space to accommodate the full size of the tree's canopy, which can stretch to between 40 and 70 feet when grown in cultivated landscapes. These trees prefer well-draining, fertile soil. They can tolerate a wide variety of substrates including clay or sand, but prefer a slightly alkaline to neutral pH (between 5.5 and 7.5). The best time to plant these trees is in either spring or fall. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and help to regulate soil temperatures. Water newly planted Tilia trees regularly to help them establish a strong root system. Irrigate once or twice a week during the growing season in spring and summertime. Established trees are drought-tolerant, but still do appreciate deep waterings during times of extended drought. 

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Prune to remove dead, diseased, damaged, or crossing branches and lightly shape the canopy of younger trees in early springtime. These trees can and often are pollarded. Trim or remove suckers and water sprouts as they appear. Remove no more than 10 to 20 percent of the canopy in a single year to prevent over-stressing the tree. In general, they are best when allowed to take their natural shape. These trees can survive for hundreds of years in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

​Tilia trees are best propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Tilia tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Tilia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Tilia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. 
  3. Place harvested seeds in a sealable bag or container filled with moistened peat moss or sand, and place the container in the refrigerator for between three and four months' time. This cold-stratification period is typically necessary for seeds to germinate. After this time has passed, bring seeds out and sow them.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Tilia trees produce small, pea-sized nutlets that hang in clusters attached to ribbon-like leaves called bracts.
Tilia seeds are small, round, and hard.

Problems and Pests

Tilia trees and shrubs can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
  • Linden Aphids (Eucallipterus tiliae)
  • Japanese Beetles
  • Spider Mites
  • Scale Insects
  • Borers
  • Lace Bugs
  • Leaf Miners
  • Leaf Spot and Anthracnose
  • Verticillium Wilt
  • Canker
  • Leaf Scorch
For more information about these pests and diseases, including how to treat and prevent them, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

Linden trees are sometimes pollarded, a pruning technique which creates a dense crown of foliage annually.
Linden trees are commonly planted in rows along driveways and roads.
These trees make great street and lawn trees for shade.

Videos

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Resources

How to Grow Lime Trees
Linden Tree Info: How to Care for Linden Trees
Pollarding My Linden Trees
How to Grow and Care for Littleleaf Linden
Wikipedia: Tilia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 631, Tilia