Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Malvaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Flowering Tree, Ornamental, Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species (General Cultivars include 'Greenspire')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7; highly adaptable to urban microclimates.
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree with a dense, symmetrical, pyramidal to oval crown. It is highly valued for its fragrant flowers and tidy growth habit, often reaching a stately form at maturity.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, heart-shaped (cordate) leaves; 1.5 to 3 inches long; serrated margins; oblique base; dark green above and silvery-green beneath; turns pale yellow in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Gray-brown bark; smooth and silvery when young, becoming ridged and furrowed with long, narrow plates as it matures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe and Western Asia; widely naturalized in North America
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers in late spring/early summer; fruits in late summer; yellow fall color; dormant in winter
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils; moderate drought tolerance once established; sensitive to extreme salt.
Mature Size
Height: 50-70 feet; Spread: 30-50 feet; Growth rate: Medium; Lifespan: 70-150 years.
Special Characteristics
Flowers are used for medicinal herbal teas (lime tea); highly fragrant; excellent pollution tolerance; valuable for timber in carving; notable uniform shape.
Wildlife & Ecology
Major nectar source for honeybees; produces high-quality honey; supports various pollinators, butterflies, and birds; provides dense nesting cover for songbirds.