Silver Linden
Tilia tomentosa

Height: 50-70’
Width: 35-40’
Hardiness Zone: 4b
Exposure: sun
Origin: Southeastern Europe, Western Asia

Description:

Deciduous tree with medium growth rate; pyramidal shape when young becoming oval to pyramidal-oval with age; leaves 2 to 5” long with similar width, lustrous dark green on upper surface and silvery tomentose beneath. Some selections develop attractive yellow foliage in autumn. Flowers are yellowish-white and fragrant in late June to early July which is later than other lindens. Bees are attracted to lindens; some literature reports death to bees and bumblebees after feeding on nectar. Tree is useful as a street tree because of its shape, attractiveness, tolerance of street-side conditions and general freedom from pests.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Tolerates heat and drought; readily transplanted; prefers moist well-drained soil although widely tolerant of less than ideal sites; tolerates both acid and high limestone soils.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Numerous insects, mites and fungi may infest this species, but the landscape effectiveness is generally not destroyed.

Cultivars:

‘Brabant’ -Broad conical crown; leaves turn yellow in autumn
Green Mountain® -Rapid-growing, dense-crowned tree; heat and drought tolerant ‘Sterling’ -Symmetrical broad pyramidal crown, young leaves silvery, reportedly resistant to Japanese beetle and Gypsy moth larvae.

 

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

 

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Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org