Tilia tomentosa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TIL-ee-uh toh-men-TOH-suh
- Description
-
Tilia tomentosa prefers moist, well-drained soil but will grow in a range of soil types. This plant has a few forms: it has a pyramidal form when young, becomes upright and oval with age, has erect branches, broad pyramidal, and is dense. While it is difficult to transplant, it does make a good honey plant and casts dense shade.
Flowers: Frequent consumption of tea made with the honey-flavored flowers can cause heart damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Green Mountain'
- 'Petiolaris'
- 'Green Mountain'
- 'Green Mountain', 'Petiolaris'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Green Mountain'
- 'Petiolaris'
- 'Green Mountain'
- 'Green Mountain', 'Petiolaris'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tilia
- Species:
- tomentosa
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) caterpillars. You may see it during its three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights March-September in the north.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- range of soil types; wind, salt, and air pollution
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has inconspicuous fruit that persists into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Flower Description:
- This plant has yellowish white, pendulous, fragrant flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 2 to 5 inches, alternate, simple, and dark green on upper side with silvery white on underside. They are slightly heart-shaped with teethed margins. Their fall color is yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- This plant generally has light gray bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution
- Salt
- Wind
