American Basswood

Tilia americana

Available sizes: 3g

Max Size: 80′ tall x 60′ wide
Average Size: 60′ tall x 40′ wide

Clay, Loam, Sand
Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
No salt tolerance

AKA: Linden, White Wood, Bee Tree, White Basswood, Lime Tree

These attractive shade trees are deciduous with a yellow fall color. They bloom with fragrant white or yellow flowers in the spring and ripen their inedible fruits in the fall. It is a famed tree for honey production; the honey is darkly colored and often marketed as gourmet honey. Small mammals eat the seeds, and the flowers attract many pollinators, especially bees. It’s exciting to note that the tree attracts fireflies. It is also the larval host for the Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and the Red Spotted Purple Butterfly (Limenitis arthemis).

The tree’s inner bark produces exceptionally strong bark fibers that make it one of the most widely and commonly used species for fiber work (twine, shoes, houses, mats, rope, clothes, thread for wound care or fiber arts, netting, etc). The wood is also useful for building and was favored for canoes. Modern uses include everything from furniture to pulpwood and toys. (1)

The tree also has edible qualities. The young buds and twigs can be eaten raw or cooked as greens; their flavor is sweet. The flowers can also be harvested to make a tea; most sites recommend seeping for 10-20mins to properly enjoy the floral, white tea flavor without an aftertaste of wood. (2) The sap can be tapped (like a maple tree); the sweet sap contains low amounts of sugar. It can be boiled down into a syrup or enjoyed raw as a refreshing drink. (3) The inner bark can be dried and ground into flour for soups and breads.