Linden (Tilia spp.)

Medium-sized trees

• Maximum height
  30 to 60 feet
• Relative growth rate
  Good
• Freedom from insect pests
  Good
• Freedom from disease problems
  Good
• Resistance to storm damage
  Good
• Will grow on poorly drained soil
  Poor
• Will grow in hot, dry areas
  Good
• Easy to transplant
  Good
• Withstands city conditions
  Excellent

The lindens as a group are some of our best shade trees. Their small flowers produced in early summer are not especially ornamental, but they are highly fragrant. The small, round seed is born on an interesting leafy bract that hangs on the tree well into the winter. Of the seven species of linden grown in this country, the little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata) is the most commonly available. The leaves of this species remain green on the tree long after other trees have shed theirs. Lindens have few insect or disease pests.

Improved varieties of linden include 'Green-spire,' a straight-trunked tree that rapidly grows into a narrow oval form; 'Chancellor,' with a narrow, compact, upright growth habit; and 'Redmond,' a densely pyramidal tree.