Tilia cordata
Littleleaf Linden, Small-leaved-lime
Mature Size, Growth, Longevity
Average mature size of 50-70' tall in the landscape. Width usually 30-45'. Habit starts out pyramidal, then becomes more pyramidal-rounded or upright-oval. Predictable, symmetrical shape. Becomes quite densely branched. Can reach 80-90' tall in the wild. Medium growth rate, 10-15' over a 5-10-year period. Usually lives 70-120 years.
Native Range
Native to Europe and has been planted as a shade tree since ancient times.
Flower and Fruit Details
Flowers are yellowish, fragrant, borne 5-7 together on pendulous 2-3" wide cymes, occurring June to July. Flowers borne on (suspended from) a unique floral bract, 1.5-3.5" long & 3/8-3/4" wide. Flowers attract butterflies & bees. Fruits are rounded, tan/gray/brown nutlets, thin-shelled, slightly or not ridged, covered with a gray pubescence, then glabrous, developing in the summer on a bract.
Leaf and Bark Features
Deciduous: Leaves are alternate, simple, 1.5-4" long, cordate (heart-shaped, thus the name, "cordata"), serrated along the margins, dark glossy green on top, lighter green beneath, w/ brown pubescence in vein axils. Petiole 3/4-1 1/4" long. Yellow to yellow-green fall color. Young stems slender, lustrous brown, w/ 1/4" brown buds. Older bark is gray-brown, ridged and furrowed on older trunks.
Culture and Care
Transplants readily, prefers deep, moist, well-drained, fertile soils, & is pH adaptable. found on limestone in the wild. Plant in full sun. Zones 3-7. Some afternoon shade may be beneficial in Zone 7. Urban/pollution tolerant. Tolerates clay, loam or sand. Moderate to good drought tolerance. Moderate salt tolerance. Susceptible to aphids/sooty mold and Japanese beetles, and gets both fairly regularly. Lacebugs & spider mites are other possible concerns.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts
Good pollution tolerance makes this species a widely used street and city tree. 3-season interest: Spring, summer & fall. Lindens are usually called limes in Great Britain.
Suggested Uses
Excellent shade tree for lawns, large areas, streets, planters & malls. Can also be used as a hedge if kept sheared from youth.
Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA
The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.
Tilia cordata 'Glenleven' // Glenleven Littleleaf Linden
Tree. Open growth habit. Large, dark green leaves, 1.5-2 times the leaf size of 'Greenspire', with a yellow fall color. Average mature size 50' tall and 35' wide, fast growing with a straight trunk. This cultivar was introduced by Sheridan Nurseries, Ontario, Canada.
BT004510 - BT004530Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' // Greenspire Littleleaf Linden
Tree. Maintains a single leader with nice branching, does well under difficult conditions. Average mature size 40-50' tall 30-35' wide. Susceptible to sunscald and mechanical damage. Originated from a cross between 'Euclid' and a selection from Boston parks. Commonly used as a landscape tree and street tree. Tolerates tough conditions. Foliage is dark green, with smaller ( leaves than the species, but since they are dense, the tree casts a heavy shade. Moderate growth rate. A profusion of blooms in June/July. Small, 2-4" leaves. Works well in containers/above-ground planters, as a hedge, in large parking lot islands and tree pits, as a residential street tree, and in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil and/or drought are common.
BT001270 - BT001951 - BT002094b - BT002575 - BT002600 - BT002800 - BT002810 - BT006640 - BT006650bTilia cordata 'Halka' // Summer Sprite® Littleleaf Linden
Tree. A diminutive, dense, compact, semi-dwarf form of linden, 15-20' tall & 10-15' wide, with a rounded to pyramidal or upright-oval habit. Good plant for confined city spaces. Develops a "sheared appearance". Zone 4-7. Leaves are small, lustrous, dark green, wavy and leathery, with good heat tolerance, even in Zone 7. Ideal patio tree, small specimen, or for large containers and to create a small, formal allee. Flowers are yellow to nearly white.
BT001778