June Tree of the Month, American LindenAmerican Linden; Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL

This month is when the beautiful Linden trees are in full flower.  The American Linden, also known as Basswood or Beetree Linden is a honeybee and flower pollinator favorite because of it’s lovely sweet scent.  It is also one of our favorites, so much so that we named two of our puppies after it!  The Linden, known by all the above names by North Americans is remembered as a Lime tree by the British.  Can you see why scientific nomenclature is a helpful tool?

The Linden is a beloved tree all over the world and in Europe most 16 century manors had a Linden planted on either side of the front door for good luck, which was a custom that travelled the Atlantic as many in the new colonies saluted memories of old and wanted good luck for the future in their new land.

This is a tree that can reach 60’-80’ in the Chicago area and a spread half it’s height.  There are many cultivars of this species but often they are plagued with difficulties in structure and so our favoriteLinden, daughter of Tilia is the native North American original shown here.

It has a rich history and the name Basswood comes from a word meaning fiber from the aboriginal peoples of North America. They discovered that the bark of the Linden Linden tree flowers, pale white green with sweet scentcould be soaked and separated to be plied into twine and rope and when boiled even made into fiber for weaving for mats and clothing. It is also a favorite of wood carvers.  Medicinally, properties of the Linden have included management of fevers, hypertension, indigestion and as an expectorant, to name just a few.