Common Name: littleleaf linden
Scientific Name:
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Tilia
Species: T. cordata
Hardiness Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 50 to 70 ft
Width: 35 to 50
Common characteristics:
Little leaf linden bark is gray-brown and is smooth on young trunks and then ages to a ridged and furrowed appearance. Leaves are simple and alternately arranged on the twigs. They are typically 1-3" long and have a heart-shaped base. Green leaves in the summer will give way to clear yellow ones in fall. Flowers are a fragrant creamy yellow and will hang in clusters of 5-7 flowers, blooming in early summer. The flowers will give way to small green to yellowish-green nutlets.
Where it grows:
Prefers moist, well-drained soils. This tree will tolerate occasional drought and alkaline soils. Although it has been used as a popular urban landscape tree it has a low tolerance for salt spray and may not be suited for growth near roads.
How it’s used:
It is best used as a shade tree in lawns or parks.
Ecosystem services:
Used widely by insect pollinators, a favorite of honey bees, as a habitat by birds and mammals.
Where it is native to:
This European native species is now commonly used in the United States as a shade tree.
Known Varieties and Their Traits:
Chancellor little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Chancellor’): This cultivar is more compact than the species (50 feet tall rather than 70 feet). The habit is upright in youth and more pyramidal when mature.
Cornithian® little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Corzam’): Narrow-pyramidal shape formed by a straight central trunk and evenly spaced branching. 45 feet high by 15 feet wide.
Greenspire little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’): This cultivar also grows shorter than the species (50 feet). The habit is a neat pyramidal shape with a central leader.
Glenleven linden (Tilia cordata ‘Glenleven’): This is now classified as Tilia x flavenscens 'Glenleven'. Faster growing with a straight trunk and more open habit.
Shamrock® little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Baileyi’): Similar to 'Greenspire', but with a more open crown. 50 feet high by 30 feet wide.
Summer Sprite® little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Halka’): Compact cultivar with rounded shape; grows 20 feet high by 15 feet wide.
Problems:
Watch for aphids and Japanese beetles as they can be a problem. Tolerant of pollution common to the urban landscape
References: