Linden trees are easily identified! Look for the near-perfectly symmetrical trees in parks, school yards, and lining city boulevards!
Linden trees are a favorite among homeowners, city planners, and landscapers alike! Known for their perfectly balanced canopies, big, heart-shaped leaves, and bee-friendly, fragrant summer blooms, these deciduous trees add elegance and structure to any outdoor space!
It doesn't matter if you're lining a boulevard, adding structure to a front yard, or planning a peaceful backyard retreat; Linden trees are reliable, fast-growing, and low-maintenance!
Below you'll find our list of the top Linden trees for today's gardeners, plus care tips and ideas for getting the most from these wonderful shade trees.
Ready to fall in love with Lindens? Read on!
- All About Linden Tree Texture, Form & Fragrance
- Ways to Use Linden Trees In Your Landscape
- Top 5 Linden Trees at Nature Hills Nursery
- Where and How to Plant Linden Trees
- The Sweet Story of Basswood Honey
All About Linden Tree Texture, Form & Fragrance
Linden trees create soothing shade with their massive, heart-shaped leaves, which can grow up to 8 inches across. The leaves have saw-tooth edges and grow in an offset pattern, creating layers of texture throughout the canopy.
Tiny, fragrant, white to yellowish flowers bloom in summer, and after flowering, little nutlet-like fruit pods dangle from pale green bracts, adding charm and visual intrigue. The fairy wing-like bracts persist on the tree for some time, falling like helicopters from the tree in late summer or early autumn.
Ways to Use Linden Trees In Your Landscape
Use Lindens as a solitary specimen, in a group of three as a statement feature, or in formal pairs flanking pathways. Their branching structure looks especially beautiful when dusted with snow or lit from below with uplighting.
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Shade Trees: Their broad canopies and large leaves provide excellent, cooling shade for patios, play areas, or outdoor seating nooks.
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Street Trees: With their upright and symmetrical form, Lindens line streets and boulevards beautifully, ideal for formal or uniform plantings.
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Lawn Specimens: Make a bold statement with a single Linden tree centered in a front or backyard for year-round structure and elegance.
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Pollinator Gardens: Plant near vegetable patches or pollinator-friendly areas to support bees and butterflies with their fragrant mid-summer blooms.
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Privacy Screens: Use a staggered row of taller cultivars like American Sentry or Glenleven to create a soft, leafy green screen. Keep the lower limbs intact for screening from the lawn to the sky.
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Formal Landscaping: Choose symmetrical varieties like Greenspire or Redmond to flank driveways, entryways, or garden gates for a stately look.
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Windbreaks & Shelterbelts: Hardy and dense, some Lindens work well in large open areas to reduce wind and add beauty to rural properties.
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Snowy Showpieces: Highlight their stunning winter form with uplighting beneath the canopy, especially striking when branches are snow-dusted.
- Cottage Gardens & Tea Spots: Design a peaceful seating area beneath the canopy, perfect for sipping Linden flower tea and relaxing under the leaves.
Top 5 Linden Trees at Nature Hills Nursery
Among the top choices are the Greenspire, American Sentry, and Redmond Linden trees, each prized for their symmetrical forms, adaptability, and graceful charm. With their large saw-tooth leaves and fragrant white flowers, Linden trees bring beauty and texture through every season, making them a go-to for those seeking long-term landscape investments!
Explore our most popular Linden trees and discover why they consistently win hearts across the country:
1. Greenspire® Linden Tree
- Botanical Name: Tilia cordata 'PNI 6025'
- Features a dense, pyramidal shape with fragrant yellow blooms in early summer.
- Durable and adaptable, Greenspire Linden thrives in urban landscapes.
- Loved for its symmetry! Perfect for formal garden designs or street plantings.
- Leaves turn golden-yellow in the fall.
- A popular choice among professional landscapers.
2. American Sentry Linden Tree
- Botanical Name: Tilia americana 'McKSentry'
- A narrow-growing American Linden Tree cultivar with resistance to Japanese Beetles.
- Produces sweet-scented flowers that attract butterflies and pollinators.
- Adaptable to various soil types as long as they drain well.
- A tall, stately presence in parks and large yards.
3. Redmond Linden Tree
- Botanical Name: Tilia americana 'Redmond'
- An American Basswood cultivar with giant leaves and a cookie-cutter canopy.
- Showy white blossoms and large, textured foliage offer curb appeal and shade.
- Turns a rich golden-yellow in autumn.
- Add charm as a front yard focal point or grouped in a promenade.
4. Littleleaf Linden Tree
- Botanical Name: Tilia cordata
- Compact and symmetrical, ideal for smaller landscapes or formal avenues.
- Features shiny, dark green leaves and a tidy, smaller appearance.
- Fragrant flowers bloom mid-summer and attract bees.
- Known for its refined, polished look.
5. Glenleven Linden Tree
- Botanical Name: Tilia flavescens 'Glenleven'
- A fast-growing hybrid cross between the American Linden and Little Leaf Linden
- With a straight trunk and upright oval crown. Slightly more open canopy than Greenspire, offering a light, airy look.
- Blooms with fragrant, creamy-yellow flowers that support pollinators.
- Highly adaptable and cold-hardy, great for parks, boulevards, and estates.
- Golden fall color adds seasonal interest.
Where and How to Plant Linden Trees
Lindens thrive in full sun with well-drained soil, preferring slightly alkaline conditions. Here's how to get the best results:
- Dig your hole twice as wide as the root ball, but plant at the same depth it was growing in the nursery pot. (Read about proper planting depth here.)
- Apply arborist mulch over the root zone, but keep it 6 inches away from the trunk.
- Water deeply the first growing season using the Finger Test to check soil moisture.
- Use Nature Hills' Symbiotic Root Booster for quicker root establishment.
Once established, Lindens tolerate periodic drought but appreciate supplemental water during long dry spells.
The Sweet Story of Basswood Honey
Linden trees, often called Basswood in their native range, are not just beloved by humans, but they're absolutely vital to pollinators! When Linden trees bloom in early to mid-summer, their fragrant, creamy-white flowers become a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. These trees bloom at a time when many other nectar sources are dwindling, making them a crucial food supply during the height of pollinator season.
Linden blossoms are the source of the prized Basswood Honey, known for its pale color, delicate herbal-minty aroma, and light, floral taste with hints of spice. This specialty honey has been treasured by beekeepers and homesteaders for centuries due to its unique flavor and high-quality nectar.
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Medicinal & Cultural Uses: Historically, Linden blossoms were used in traditional medicine to treat anxiety, colds, and digestive issues. Tilia Tea made from the bracts is good for anxiety, inducing sleep, tummy troubles, and purportedly has anti-inflammatory properties. The honey from these blooms is also rich in antioxidants and used in teas, tonics, and natural remedies.
- Ecological Benefits: A mature Linden tree in full bloom can support thousands of bees in a single day. It's no wonder Lindens are often called "bee trees"! They are a cornerstone species in pollinator-friendly gardens and urban forests.
If you're planting for pollinators, adding a Linden tree to your landscape is one of the most generous things you can do for local bee populations. In fact, their nectar is so rich and inviting that bees are known to travel miles just to find a blooming Basswood!
By including Linden trees in your landscape, you're not just enhancing its beauty and shade, you're helping keep bee populations buzzing strong.
Enjoy Linden Trees For A Lifetime
With their stately silhouette and low-maintenance care, Linden trees make wonderful lawn and street trees. Their combination of form, fragrance, and foliage texture elevates any landscape. Plus, these trees sell out quickly! So if you spot one in stock at Nature Hills that speaks to your garden dreams, don't wait!
From the elegant Greenspire to the native American Sentry and beyond, Linden trees offer beauty, performance, and long-term value. Plant them for their fragrance, shade, and form, and let their grandeur transform your space.
Happy Planting!
