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Littleleaf Linden

Tilia cordata

  • Wonderful Shade Tree
  • Pleasing Form and Dark-Green Leaves
  • Fragrant Bright Yellow Flowers
  • Late Blooming Flowering Tree
  • Zones 3 to 7
  • 40' to 50' High with 40' Spread
  • Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, HI
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 1098 | Tree Size: Standard | Shipping Height: 2-3'
*Mem. Price:$6.98
Reg. Price:$10.50
Quantity:

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Zones 3 - 7
Zones 3 - 7

Hardiness Zones: Zones 3 - 7
The Littleleaf Linden can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

flowering tree
flowering tree

Type of tree:
The Littleleaf Linden falls into the following type(s): Flowering Trees, Ornamental Trees, Shade Trees

50' - 60' High
50' - 60' High

Mature Height:
The Littleleaf Linden grows to be 50' - 60' feet in height.

40' Spread
40' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Littleleaf Linden has a spread of about 40' at full maturity.

Medium Growth
Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures
Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This linden does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
The Littleleaf Linden grows in acidic, alkaline, moist, rich, sandy, well drained, wet, clay soils.

Oval Shape
Oval Shape

Shape:
This linden has oval, pyramidal shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
The Littleleaf Linden is a wonderful shade tree with a pleasing form and lustrous dark-green leaves.

Wildlife Value:
The flowers of the Littleleaf Linden attract bees and hummingbirds and the soft wood often provides nesting sites for cavity-dwelling birds.

History/Lore/Use:
The lumber from the Linden is light and strong, often used for wooden spoons and other utensils and in inexpensive furniture. It is also used for beehives and honeycomb frames. The blossoms themselves can be used for tea. This tree is related to jute, which is in the tropical genus Corchorus.

Moisture:
The Littleleaf Linden grows well in moist soils, but does not do well in wet areas or in severe drought.

Leaves:
The Littleleaf Linden has leaves that go from light green to glossy dark green as the season wears on. Each leaf is about 2-1/2 inches across.

Flower Color:
This tree produces bright yellow flowers that are very fragrant and attractive against the dark green leaves.

Bloom Time:
The Littleleaf Linden blooms in early summer. .

Fruit Description:
The fruit of this Linden is similar to a peppercorn in size and shape and is light tan in color.

The Littleleaf Linden is a wonderful shade tree with a pleasing form and lustrous dark-green leaves. This tree produces bright yellow flowers that are very fragrant and attractive against the dark green leaves. Grows in sun or partial shade, will tolerate alkaline soil if it is moist, and it transplants well. It is not particularly tolerant of drought, scorching at the leaf margins in summer drought. But this apparently does little long-term harm. It is more tolerant of heat and compact soil than American Basswood. Many communities plant Linden along the streets due to its rapid growth rate and dense, symmetrical crown but Littleleaf Linden is sensitive to road salt.

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.