Skip to content
Log inStart trial

Basswood

Tilia Americana

Design with this plant

Overview

Tilia americana, commonly known as Basswood, is a stately deciduous tree valued for its uniform shape and fragrant creamy-yellow flowers. Typically reaching 60-80 feet in height with a spread of 35-50 feet, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil conditions. Its dense foliage offers summer shade while the small fruits attract wildlife, making it an ideal ecological addition to extensive landscape designs.

Sun FullWater MediumZones 2–8Type TreeClimate Temperate
Basswood (Tilia Americana) — Its dense foliage offers summer shade while the small fruits attract wildlife; typically reaching 60-80 feet in height, image 63

Culture

Sun
Full
Water
Medium
USDA zones
2–8

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Tree
Family
Tiliaceae
Climate
Temperate

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (97)

Basswood (Tilia Americana) — and typically requires minimal upkeep once established
Basswood (Tilia Americana) — commonly known as Basswood; it thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil conditions
Basswood (Tilia Americana) — Come autumn, the foliage transitions to a delightful yellow color, contributing to the fall palette; tree for full, image 75
Basswood (Tilia Americana) — though it benefits from occasional pruning to maintain its shape and remove any damaged limbs
Basswood (Tilia Americana) — it thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil conditions
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Tilia Americana
Photographs by 3 contributors

Related plants

Lavender Starflower (Grewia Occidentalis) — The Lavender Starflower (Grewia occidentalis) is a charming shrub, growing 6-10 feet tall and wide; its lush green

Shrub

Lavender Starflower

Grewia Occidentalis

FullUSDA 9–11
20Th Century Pear (Pyrus Pyrifolia 'Nijisseiki') — Revered for its prolific white blooms in spring and lustrous green foliage

Tree

20Th Century Pear

Pyrus Pyrifolia 'Nijisseiki'

FullUSDA 4–8
Accolade Elm (Ulmus 'Morton' Accolade™) — It thrives in USDA Zones 5-8, in full sun to partial shade, and is adaptable to varied soil types

Tree

Accolade Elm

Ulmus 'Morton' Accolade™

FullUSDA 4–9
Acoma Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica 'Acoma') — Drought and mildew resistant, it's an ideal choice for accent planting in USDA zones 6-9

Tree

Acoma Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia Indica 'Acoma'

FullUSDA 6–9
Acrocona Dwarf Spruce (Picea Abies 'Acrocona') — this slow-growing tree thrives in full sun to partial shade

Conifer

Acrocona Dwarf Spruce

Picea Abies 'Acrocona'

FullUSDA 4–7
Afghan Pine (Pinus Eldarica) — is a versatile and robust conifer well-suited to arid and semi-arid climates

Conifer

Afghan Pine

Pinus Eldarica

FullUSDA 7–10