Basswood is a synonym for the American linden tree ( Tilia Americana ) . While North Americans often call any tree of the genus Tilia a " lime , " Europeans call these same tree " lindens " or " calx tree diagram . " It is upright to call only the American native species a basswood , but it has become a colloquial name loosely portion to any Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree recognize as a linden . Depending on species , these basswood are best grown in USDA zone 3 through 8 .
American Basswood
aboriginal to the eastern half of the United States , the American basswood ( Tilia Americana ) is commonly not develop in garden but admired growing in woodlands that are not manage . It develop 60 to 80 foot marvellous and 20 to 40 feet broad with large , heart - mold leaves that are about the size of it of a bass fish . The gullible foliage ferment golden yellow or scandalmongering - unripened and tan in the downfall . The fragrant flowers bloom in later give and provide nectar and yield a deep gold - color in dear . The bark is smooth and on vernal twigs can be stripped off to make straps or R-2 .
Littleleaf Basswood
commonly called littleleaf linden ( Tilia cordata ) , this indigen of Europe has leaves that face just like those of the American linden but are much modest . Littleleaf linden grows 60 to 70 feet magniloquent and 30 to 45 feet blanket and attains a shape much more suitable to landscape painting as a lawn , specter or street tree , allot to Michael Dirr of the University of Georgia and writer of " Dirr ’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs . " cultivar of this tree species include " Chancellor , " " Corinthian , " " Glenleven , " " June Bride " and " Greenspire . "
Bigleaf Basswood
This handsome tree is also from Europe and is more frequently squall the bigleaf lime ( Tilia platyphyllos ) . According to Dirr , the name is misleading , as this tree ’s leaves really are n’t much larger than those of the littleleaf linden . In Europe , this species is widely used for creating telling allees and cut back hedgerows . At adulthood , the bigleaf lime tree spring up 60 to 80 feet in high spirits and 20 to 40 feet wide . " Princes Street " and " Rubra " are cultivar that expose more ornately red young twig in the winter .
Silver Basswood
argent brown barque and leaf that are unripe but with silver white underside are the origin for the common name of fluent basswood , or more frequently , the ash grey linden ( Tilia tomentosa ) . This massive tree diagram rise 50 to 70 feet tall and 25 to 45 feet wide with a rounded , uniformly branched structure . It is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia . The " Sterling Silver " cultivar is an improved choice of the wild tree species , but rise a branch structure that is more " sculpted , " accord to Dirr . Other cultivars are " Green Mountain , " " Petiolaris " and " Princeton . "
Crimean Basswood
This basswood ( Tilia x euchlora ) was produce in 1860 from a genetical cross between Tilia cordata and Tilia dasystyla . Dirr says this attractive Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is less oft used in landscape in comparison to the littleleaf linden . Crimean linden has glossy green leave with absolutely toothed sharpness . The tree retains its lowermost branches , finally creating a beech or Christmas treelike form 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide . A popular cultivar in the United States of this hybrid tree diagram is named " Redmond . "
