Tilia cordata

Excellent street tree in the Malvaceae family.  It is a great urban tree tolerating poor soil, drought, and air pollution. It is more ideally suited for a northern climate than for the south.  It is easy to transplant and tolerates heavy pruning.  Its fall color is pale yellow-green and not very ornamental. Flowers are pendulous and attract bees in hoards, a detriment; linden honey very desirable; in the fruiting state, peduncle twists at base turning bract & cyme semi-upright, giving the appearance of a rider on a surfboard riding the waves.

Tilias called lime trees by British; historically, planted around shipyards where wood utilized for cabin furniture for officers, and containers in gallies, storing items such as limes and another citrus, keeping them fresher than other porous woods; French thought wood was used in ship timbers, laughed at using weaker wood, and referred to British as limes.

Seasons of Interest:

          Bloom: Summer, June Fruit: Summer, August

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Insect visitors include borers, scale, leaf miner, lace bugs, caterpillars, aphids and Japanese beetles. Spider mites can be troublesome, particularly in hot, dry periods. Verticillium wilt is infrequent but can be fatal. Powdery mildew, leaf spots, and canker may occur. 

Quick ID

• Heart-shaped leaves with teeth
• Leaves asymmetrical at base, small side
• pendulous inflorescence attached to large oblong bracts
• Bract & fruits upright, as rider on surfboard