
Tilia americana
American basswood · also American linden, Basswood, White basswood
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American Basswood is a large, broad-crowned tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant, yellowish flowers. It is valued in urban landscapes for its shade and attracts pollinators. The tree's soft wood is used for carving, but it can be susceptible to honeydew drip from aphids.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 12,9111.8%—9.0 in
- 9,4331.4%—3.1 in
- 5,8071.9%—9.0 in
- 4,7301.1%43 yr13 in
- 4,6691.5%—2.4 in
- 4,2991.3%18 yr15 in
- 3,7061.1%—6.3 in
- 3,2800.68%5.4 yr2.4 in
- 2,7460.97%56 yr16 in
- 2,1791.4%7.9 yr5.9 in
- 1,8640.95%3.9 yr3.3 in
- 1,7512.4%5.8 yr4.7 in
- 1,2271.5%—7.5 in
- 1,1070.41%—7.9 in
- 1,0340.56%—16 in
- 1,0220.87%—16 in
- 7541.6%—3.1 in
- 4630.20%—12 in
- 3230.43%—3.9 in
- 2550.57%9.8 yr3.1 in
- 1941.7%—12 in
- 1730.01%—0.9 in
- 1481.2%4.8 yr2.0 in
- 1390.03%—2.0 in
- 1060.24%—2.0 in
- 480.14%—14 in
- 150.02%7.8 yr2.0 in
- 120.01%—4.0 in
- 10.01%—21 in
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 40–70 ft
- Canopy spread
- 20–25 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Jun, Jul, Aug
Trunk diameters across every city: median 6.3 in, mean 9.3 in, 90th percentile 21 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- Gulf of St. Lawrence lowland forests
- Northeast US Coastal forests
Other Tilia in the catalogue
21 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.