Also known as Linden, Linn, or Beetree.
Mature Size: 70 to 80 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter.
Form: Medium tree with a dense crown; often sprouts from old stumps, resulting in a cluster of trunks.
Habitat: Tolerates variety of sites, but grows best on deep, moist, fertile loams.
Alternate, simple, oval to heart shaped, 5 to 6 inches long, with toothed edges, leaf base uneven, green above and paler below.
Pale yellow, in clusters several inches long, hanging below a long, gracefully curving leafy wing, appearing in early to mid-summer.
Round, ¼ inch nutlet covered with gray-brown hair; in hanging clusters below a curving, leafy bract, which in autumn acts as a wing to carry the seeds away with the wind.
At first smooth and gray-green, later turning gray-brown, fibrous, ridged with long, shallow furrows and flat topped ridges.
Moderately thick, zigzag, green (summer) or red (winter); buds plump with one side bulging out more than the other.
The wood is cream colored, lightweight, soft, tough but not durable. It is used for pulp, carved woodenware, excelsior, boxes and barrels. The inner bark produces a fibrous material used for weaving baskets, rope and mats. A variety of wildlife eat the seeds, twigs and buds. Bees use the fragrant flowers to make a choice honey. Basswood is often planted as a shade tree.
Tilia caroliniana and Tilia heterophylla are very closely related to this species. In fact, all are often simply grouped together as "Tilia species."
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Native Trees of Virginia
The most common native tree species found in Virginia's forests are described with images of leaves, twigs, flowers and/or fruit to aid in identification.
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