Tilia americana #3 (American Basswood/Linden)

American Basswood, also known as American Linden, is a medium to large, deciduous, native shade tree. It has many ornamental qualities, from its dark green, lustrous, heart-shaped leaves to its small, pale-yellow, fragrant flowers, to its golden fall color. It is commonly used in residential plantings, tree lawns, parks, and as a street tree. It is a well-behaved, low-maintenance tree with a woody, laterally spreading root system that does not consist of a taproot, making transplanting easy. This tree prefers deep, moist and fertile soils and will grow faster in these conditions, capable of reaching 20-30′ tall in the first 20 years. It is adaptable to less favorable conditions, but intolerant of air pollution in harsh urban environments.

American Basswood is an absolute favorite of bees and beekeepers alike! Another common name for this tree is “Bee-Tree” because of the popularity of its sweet nectar which attracts so many bees that the buzzing is audible from a distance. The honey they produce from it is highly prized, light in color and with a distinctive aroma. The bees cross-pollinate the flowers which will mature into drooping nutlets that mature in the fall and are dispersed by wind. They are sometimes eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and Bobwhite Quail.  At least 132 species of Lepidoptera also host on Tilia americana, providing a considerable buffet for insectivorous birds and nestlings. Very mature individuals tend to form hollows and cavities that act as shelter for small mammals and nesting sites for woodpeckers, Wood Ducks and other cavity-nesting birds. Some have even been known to be full of honey!

The outer layers of bark are often a source of food in the winter for rabbits and voles, while deer will seek them out for browse at any time of year – trunk protection and fencing is highly recommended for the establishment years!

Sources:
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees by Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke
Missouri Botanical Garden
Illinois Wildflowers
Photo Credits:
Mature Fall Color: Simon Villeneuve, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons