Description

Leaves: Shiny dark green and hairless above, poor fall color - green to yellow-green; pale green and mostly hairless below; alternate; simple; round to egg-shaped, abruptly tapering to a point, obliquely heart-shaped; finely toothed with abrupt and sharp points, 2" to 4" in length; hairless petiole, 1" to 2" in length; deciduous.

Twigs/buds: Twigs light red-brown above, green-yellow below; hairless, slender. Buds yellow-red to red above, green below, hairless, and at least 1/4" in length.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect; yellowish-white; occur in July; in cymes 2" to 4" in length, 3-7 flowers per cyme; leafy, winged bract is smooth, and lance-shaped, 2" to 3" in length, and hairless. Fruits covered in brown hair; small (1/4" in length), oval, tapering to a point, somewhat ribbed.

Bark: Grayish brown when older.

Wood: Unimportant; presumably similar to other linden wood which is whitish, soft, and used for inexpensive furniture (e.g., drawer sides).

General: A hybrid of T. cordata and T. dasystyla with a looser, more graceful habit than T. cordata. A rapid grower, often reaching heights of 40' to 60'. Sucker/sprout growth can be a problem on grafted trees. Prefers full sun.

Landscape Use: Can be used in urban locations, as a shade tree, or as a big hedge. Zones 3-7.

Cultivar: 'Laurelhurst'.

Characteristics