Description

Leaves: Alternate; simple; more evenly heart-shaped; 2" to 5" long and almost as wide; deciduous; coarsely doubly serrate margin; pointed tip; dark green and glabrous to slightly pubescent above; covered with dense silver-white pubescence beneath; petiole thin and hairy, 1" to 1-1/2" long; yellow fall color.

Twigs/buds: Twigs usually zigzag; densely pubescent.  No terminal bud; lateral buds partially covered with soft hairs, otherwise dark red-brown or green, about 1/4" long, rounded, usually with two visible scales.

Flowers/fruit: Flowers perfect; yellow-white; similar to littleleaf European linden, with a bract 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" long.  Fruit similar to American linden but hairier and slightly smaller.

Bark: Smooth and light gray for many years; later turning dark gray-brown and furrowed.

Wood: Presumably similar to American linden; little information available.

General: Native to southeastern Europe and western Asia.  Like other lindens prefers moist sites with rich soil but is adaptable to poorer soils; more heat and drought tolerant than other lindens.  Shade tolerant.

Landscape Use: A good, large shade tree that should be planted more in Utah.  Its foliage is very attractive, with contrasting dark green and silver-white.  Zones 4-7.

Cultivars: 'Brabant', 'Erecta', Green Mountain®, 'Satin Shadow', 'Sterling'.

Characteristics