Mongolian Linden Tilia mongolica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TIL-ee-uh mon-GOL-ik-uh
- Description
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The Mongolian Linden is a medium-size ornamental deciduous broadleaf tree and a member of the Malvaceae family or Lindens. The tree is the smallest species in the Linden family, and it may reach a height of 30 feet and 25 feet wide. The tree grows slower than other Lindens, and it has a unique exfoliating bark and has slightly smaller, three to five-lobed leaves. It is pyramidal to rounded in shape. Commercially, the Mongolian Linden may be hard to find in nurseries. Another common name is Mongolian Lime. A cultivar, known as 'Harvest Gold,' is the hybrid of the Mongolian Linden and the Littleleafed Linden. Its leaves appear to be more like the Littleleaf Linden.
The Mongolian Linden is native to North China and far eastern Russia. The wood of the tree is soft and creamy and is much preferred by woodcarvers to make piano soundboards or certain parts of a guitar. Young leaves and shoots are edible, and the flowers may be dried and used to make tea.
The genus name, tilia, is Latin for Linden or Lime Tree. It is derived from the Greek word ptelea or "Elm tree" and tillai or "Black Poplar." The translation means "broad." The species name, mongolica, refers to its origin.
The tree prefers full sun to part shade as well as alkaline, loamy, or well-drained soils. Unlike other Lindens, it is not drought or salt-spray tolerant. The tree, however, does transplant well. This species has fewer problems with the infestation of aphids.
Propagation by seed may be challenging. Stored seeds tend to be slower to germinate. Reportedly, it is best to obtain fresh seeds and place them in a cold frame. It may take the seeds up to 18 months to germinate. Layering is best done in the spring. Suckers or young shoots may be removed with as much root as possible and replanted.
The leaves are ovate, simple, and dark green with paler undersides. The leaves are three to five-lobed, which is not typical of other Lindens. The flowers form in the summer. They are fragrant creamy yellow dangling clusters. The fruit is a grayish hairy nutlet.
The nectar of the flowers attracts butterflies and other insects.
The Mongolian Linden is hardy to Zone 3 to 5. Recommended plant sites include residential areas, parks, and city streets.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves dark green with paler undersides
- Leaves ovate, 3-5 lobed with serrated margins, and 2-3 inches in length and width
- Pale yellow blossoms, 6-12 blossoms hanging clusters
- Fruit small grayish, leathery, hairy nutlet
- Bark light gray and exfoliating
Diseases, Insects, and Other Problems:
Verticillium wilt may occur. Japanese beetles and the linden borer are insects that may be problematic. This species shows resistance to aphids.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Harvest Gold'
Medium size, intermediate growth rate, yellow flowers
- 'Harvest Gold'
- 'Harvest Gold'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Harvest Gold'
Medium size, intermediate growth rate, yellow flowers
- 'Harvest Gold'
- 'Harvest Gold'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tilia
- Species:
- mongolica
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The inner bark's fiber is used to make mats, shoes, and coarse cloth. The wood may be used to make broom handles and piano-sounding boards.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North China and far eastern Russia
- Distribution:
- Native: China North Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, and Manchuria
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract bees and other insects.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Fragrance
- Shade
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This tree shows resistance to aphids.
- Edibility:
- The young leaves and shoots may be eaten raw or cooked. Tea is made from flowers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a grayish nutlet. It is obovoid, leathery, hairy, and is 6-8 mm in size. The nutlet has a long strap-like bract.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are fragrant pale yellow to creamy colored blossoms that hang in clusters. There are 6-12 flowers per cluster. The clusters hang from a long strapped bract. The ovary is hairy, and the style is glabrous.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are simple, ovate, and 3-5 lobed with serrated margins. The leaf color is dark green in the summer with paler undersides. The fall color is mild yellow. The leaves measure 2-3 inches in length and width.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- The bark is grayish and irregularly exfoliates.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are glabrous, and the winter buds are hairless.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators