Description

Leaves: Dark green, shiny, and hairless above; mostly pale yellow-green or blue-green below, with orange tufts of hair; alternate; simple; almost circular, base heart-shaped; tapering abruptly to a point; finely and sharply toothed; 1-1/2" to 3" in length; petiole hairless, slender, and approximately 1" in length; deciduous.

Twigs/buds: Twigs shiny green-brown, sometimes red-tinged in winter; slender, zigzag. Buds brownish, small (1/4" in length), plump, teardrop-like, and often lopsided.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect; pale yellow, fragrant; borne in many branched cymes, 2" to 3" in width, cymes have 5 to 7 flowers below curving, leafy, winged bracts; occur in early to mid summer (June to July). Fruit a nutlet; ball-like; covered in gray hairs, but becoming hairless; sometimes somewhat ridged.

Bark: Gray to brown; fibrous; mature trees are often shallowly furrowed and ridged.

Wood: Important; wood is whitish and soft; often used for inexpensive furniture (e.g., drawer sides).

General: A European native which has been naturalized in U.S. Has strong conical habit and medium size at maturity, growing to 60' or 70' tall. Aphids can be a problem.

Landscape Use: A good quality landscape tree that is quite popular throughout Utah and the U.S. Planted for landscape or ornamental purposes, it makes a great shade tree or hedge. Commonly cultivated. Somewhat tolerant of urban conditions, though doesn't do well with intense sun, heat, and drought. Weak branch attachment is a potential problem with some cultivars. Similar in appearance to American linden (T. americana), but with smaller leaves (up to 3" long), flowers, and fruit. Zones 3-7. 

Cultivars: 'Baileyi', 'Bicentennial', 'Bohje', 'Chancellor', 'Corinthian', 'De Groot', 'Fairview', 'Firecracker', 'Glenleven', 'Golden Cascade', 'Green Globe', 'Greenspire', 'Handsworth', 'June Bride', 'Morden', 'Norlin', 'Olympic', 'Pendula Nana', 'Prestige', 'Rancho', 'Salem' ,'Swedish Upright', 'Turesi'.

Characteristics