Plant Details

Tilia americana

Basswood

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Tilia americana.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

38 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American basswood[1][2]
  • American Lime[2]
  • American linden[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (26)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse linde[2]
French
  • Tilleul d'Amérique[2]
Alabama
Catalan
  • Til·ler americà[2]
Cayuga
  • Ohó:draˀ[2]
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美洲椴木[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美洲椴樹[2]
Czech
  • lípa americká[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • ameerika pärn[2]
Finnish
  • amerikanlehmus[2]
German
Hungarian
  • amerikai hárs[2]
Italian
  • Tiglio americano[2]
Japanese
  • アメリカシナノキ[2]
Miami
  • wiikapimišii[2]
Ojibwe
  • asigobaami-mazinichigan[2]
  • weegobee[2]
  • wiigbimish[2]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Polish
  • Lipa amerykańska[2]
Russian
  • Липа американская[2]
Seneca
Slovak
  • lipa americká[2]
Spanish
  • tilo americano[2]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Amerika Ihlamuru[2]
Ukrainian
  • Липа американська[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tilia americana L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • American basswood (EN); Amerikanische Linde — VernacularName.tsv, line 163243; taxon 56WNF.
  • Schwarz-Linde (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 163244; taxon 56WNF.
[2] Tilia americana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • basswood — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • American basswood — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • American linden — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • tilo americano — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • tilleul d'Amérique — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiigibiish — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • asigobaami-mazinichigan — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiigobimizh — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiigbimish — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiigob — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • weegobee — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiigobaatig — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiigobiishaatig — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • lípa americká — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • ameerika pärn — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • American Lime — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Липа американская — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Amerikanische Linde — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Lipa amerykańska — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • アメリカシナノキ — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • 美洲椴樹 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • O:osä’ — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • ᎢᏓᎭ — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Ohó:draˀ — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Ittobaksa — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • 美洲椴木 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Amerikaanse linde — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • svartlind — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Tiglio americano — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • wiikapimišii — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • sortlind — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • amerikai hárs — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Липа американська — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Amerika Ihlamuru — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • Til·ler americà — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • amerikanlehmus — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.
  • lipa americká — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 54854; Tilia americana.

General information

Scientific name: Tilia americana
Accepted name (Kew): Tilia americana L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Malvaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Tilia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Basswood
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 18.29–24.38 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 9.14–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Conical, Erect, Oval, Pyramidal

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Sap
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Charcoal, Fibre, Paper, Wood, Bee forage

Description

Young leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a subtle flavor and a soft, somewhat slimy texture. They make a delicious addition to salads, and when cooked, they resemble vegetables. The sap is harvested from the bark and is used as a refreshing drink. It can also be thickened into syrup and used as a sweetener. Flowers can be eaten raw, for example, added to salads. They can also serve as a tea substitute, due to their sweet and fragrant taste. Some even use them to make a chocolate substitute.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 31/08

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 258797; name ID 2518358; Tilia L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 258279; name ID 2518218; Tilia americana L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tilia americana

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1387281, ID 56WNF: Tilia americana L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Tilia americana — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .