Little-leaved linden is a great shade tree for lawns or parkway plantings in urban settings due to its ability to withstand polluted environments. It has shiny dark green leaves that turn a clear yellow in fall, and in summer it has dangling, fragrant pale yellow flowers. This tree is prone to attack by Japanese beetles.
Native geographic location and habitat:
This tree is native to Europe.
Bark color and texture:
Bark is gray-brown. It is smooth on young trunks and ages to a ridged and furrowed appearance.
Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:
The simple, alternate leaves are 1 ½ to 3 inches long and wide, heart-shaped with an uneven base. Leaves are medium green in summer changing to clear yellow in fall.
Flower arrangement, shape, and size:
Creamy yellow flowers in hanging clusters of 5 to 7 flowers bloom in early summer. Each cluster is accompanied by a long, strap-shaped bract and is very fragrant.
Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:
Fruits are small, slightly hairy, round nutlets, accompanied by a long strap-like bract.
Plant care:
This species benefits from a mulch layer to maintain a cool root environment.
List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:
Aphids and Japanese beetles can be a problem for this tree. It is tolerant of pollution.
Chancellor little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Chancellor’):
This cultivar is more compact than the species, growing to 50 feet tall rather than 70 feet. The habit is upright in youth and more pyramidal when mature.
Cornithian® little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Corzam’):
This cultivar is a narrow pyramidal shape formed by a straight central trunk and evenly spaced branching. It reaches 45 feet high by 15 feet wide.
Greenspire little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’):
This cultivar also grows shorter than the species, maturing at 50 feet tall. The habit is a neat pyramidal shape with a central leader.
Glenleven linden (Tilia cordata ‘Glenleven’):
This is now classified as Tilia x flavescens ‘Glenleven’. It is a faster growing cultivar with a straight trunk and more open habit.
Shamrock® little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Baileyi’):
Similar to ‘Greenspire’, but with a more open crown. It grows 50 feet high by 30 feet wide.
Summer Sprite® little-leaved linden (Tilia cordata ‘Halka’):
This compact cultivar with rounded shape grows 20 feet high by 15 feet wide.
