Hot summer days are always better under a shade tree. While most people think of massive oaks and maples for shade, the linden tree is a lesser-known gem that is a wonderful choice for a shade tree!
Linden trees make excellent shade trees. They have an attractive pyramidal shape while attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Linden trees turn a golden yellow in the fall and are adaptable to different of soil and PH conditions.
If you’re wondering whether linden trees are good shade trees, wonder no more! They definitely are! Below, we’ll go over all the reasons why and give you some tips on where to plant these wonderful shade trees.
Are Linden Trees Good Shade Trees?
A lot of times we take shade trees for granted. We flock to them on hot sunny days seeking cooler temperatures and a respite from the sun.
What exactly makes a good shade tree? Good shade trees will have a few common characteristics:
- Large canopy
- Few pest insects
- Good location
- Easy to maintain
- Adaptable
- Stable
First and foremost, a good shade tree has to provide adequate shade! According to North Carolina State University, American linden trees grow to around 80 feet tall and have a spread of 30 to 60 feet.
Shade? Check!
What Makes Linden Trees Better Than Other Shade Trees?
Among other important shade tree qualities, the tree has to be able to thrive in a bunch of different conditions.
Luckily, linden trees are adaptable to a variety of environments. Lindens can tolerate clay soils, a pH ranging from acidic to alkaline, and even partial shade conditions.
More importantly, linden trees can survive in a wide range of hardiness zones. Most linden trees can live in hardiness zones 3 through 7. The American linden can stretch up to zone 8.
Lindens are more cold-tolerant than heat-tolerant, but zones 3 through 7 cover most of the United States except for the very hottest areas such as the extreme southeast and southwest.
By the way, if you’ve ever heard a linden tree referred to as a basswood tree, you can read all about the differences between the two here.
If you’re on the fence about planting a linden tree in your yard, read on to discover all the reasons why linden trees are one of the BEST shade trees.
Linden Trees Have A Great Shape For Shade
When it comes to shade, a tree’s shape is important! Trees that have branches growing at odd angles or that have a slender shape won’t cast shade as nicely as uniform-shaped trees.
Take a palm tree, for example. Even though it’s pleasing to look at and gives off a tropical feel, the shade beneath a palm tree is limited.
The shape of the linden tree combined with its impressive height and width make it a wonderful choice for a shade tree.
According to the University of Kentucky, linden trees will grow in a pyramid shape when they are young. As they age, the canopy will become more rounded and full.
How Can I Promote My Linden To Grow In This Shape?
Linden trees are known for sprouting more than one trunk when they are first growing. It is best to trim these extra trunks and branches off to give your linden tree the best possible shape.
Trimming the extra trunks will promote a healthier tree that can focus on growing up and out instead of spending energy on a whole new trunk.
The height and spread of your linden tree will affect the amount of shade it gives off. Most species of linden tree will reach around 60 to 80 feet. The width (spread) of the tree is usually ½ to ⅔ the height of the linden tree, so around 30 to 50 feet wide.
Linden Trees Are A Haven For Wildlife
If you have the space in your yard to plant a linden tree, it is incredibly beneficial to wildlife. You’ll be able to witness squirrels and birds taking advantage of the amazing things a linden tree has to offer.
Linden trees attract a handful of beneficial animals and insects:
- Squirrels
- Birds
- Hummingbirds
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Lightning Bugs
Linden trees tend to have softer wood, which is helpful to cavity-nesting birds. This is especially true of the little-leaf linden. Squirrels will eat the seeds of linden trees.
What Makes Linden Trees So Attractive To Wildlife?
One of the big attractions for wildlife is the nectar-rich flowers of the linden tree. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds LOVE linden trees.
Recently, linden trees have come under fire due to the possibility of the nectar being toxic to bees. However, this claim has been disproved by studies such as the one reported in the Journal of Apidologie.
They found that there was no increase in the mortality of bees that visited linden trees for nectar.
With that out of the way, you can plant your linden tree with peace of mind that you’re helping bees! If you love watching wildlife and feeding pollinators, a linden tree is a good choice for a shade tree.
Linden Trees Put On A Show In The Fall
As summer comes to a close and cold weather sets in, trees start to prepare for winter. One way that trees prepare is by shedding their leaves.
Before the leaves fall off, they turn into the well-known fall colors of orange, red, purple, and yellow. Linden trees are no different and will give you a show before going dormant for the winter season.
The fall color of a linden tree will depend on the species of tree and the conditions where it is growing. Most often, linden trees will turn a brilliant golden yellow in the fall.
That being said, you may also see a lighter shade of green, purple, or even red leaves in the fall.
Linden Trees Look Stunning In The Summer
Fall is an exciting time to go around and stare at all the beautiful colors on the trees. While linden trees put on a good show in the fall, summer is actually when they show off the most!
In the summer, linden trees bloom clusters of creamy white to golden yellow flowers that droop off the stem. These showy flowers are what attract bees and other pollinators.
The flowers bloom anywhere from May through July and are a sight to see —and smell! Not only are these flowers quite showy, but they also give off a pleasant fragrance.
If you’re a tea drinker, you can also use the flowers to make herbal tea!
Linden trees make great shade trees, and while you’re enjoying the shade, you can also enjoy the fragrant scent of their flowers and hear the gentle buzzing of bees as they visit the flowers.
Linden Trees Are Adaptable
A tree may be the best shade tree in the world, but if it can only grow in swamps or on the tops of mountains, it doesn’t really help the average homeowner!
A good shade tree needs to be adaptable to a variety of climates. Luckily, the linden tree is known for being flexible and resilient.
Let’s check out some of the specifics:
- Hardiness zone: Linden trees will thrive in hardiness zones 3 through 7, which cover most of the US. The only exceptions are the extreme southeast and southwest where the temperatures get a little too warm.
- Soil: According to the University of Florida, linden trees can be planted in clay, loam, silt, and sandy soils. In other words, they can be planted in almost any soil type!
- pH: Like most trees, lindens have a preferential pH level. However, they can and will adapt to both alkaline and acidic soils. If you want the fastest growth, plant them in soils with a PH between 6 and 8.
- Sun: Linden trees can grow in full sun or partial shade, making them one of the few trees that will still grow in shade conditions.
- Tolerances: Linden trees are somewhat drought-tolerant and wind resistant. Some species are tolerant of urban pollution while others are not. The little-leaf linden in particular cannot tolerate pollution.
- Moisture: Linden trees can tolerate a little bit of moisture in the soil. However, they cannot sit in water for very long without unwanted consequences.
Some species, like the bigleaf lindens, are more adaptable to lower elevations. Others, such as the little-leaf lindens, prefer higher elevations. That being said, each can still grow in less-than-ideal conditions.
Linden trees are also cold-tolerant. They can survive in sub-zero temperatures, with some species surviving in temperatures as low as -30℉!
Why You Should Plant A Linden Tree
We’ve gone over a few important details about why linden trees make excellent shade trees, but what makes them better than an oak tree or maple tree?
When it comes down to it, it’s all about your preferences. What are you looking for in a shade tree?
Appearance
Linden trees are an excellent choice if you are looking for a tree with a uniform appearance. With lindens, you know exactly what the tree will look like when it’s fully grown.
Other shade trees like white pine and live oak are a mystery in terms of mature shape. They may have branches poking out at odd angles or a lop-sided spread.
Fall Clean Up
There are a few pros and cons to having a big shade tree in your yard. One major con of deciduous trees is the mess they make in the fall.
Linden trees are moderately impressive in the fall with golden yellow leaves. As temperatures continue to decline, the pretty leaves will go from the tree branches to the ground, also known as your yard.
With that being said, linden trees are far less messy than many other trees out there. Oak trees drop a ton of acorns in the fall and sweetgums drop spiky balls. If you’ve ever been around maple trees in the fall, then you know the helicopters/whirligigs that litter the yard.
Check out why linden trees are so messy (and what to plant instead) if this sounds like more work than it’s worth.
Roots
An understandable concern of many homeowners is whether or not a tree’s roots will become a problem later down the road.
Roots can creep under foundations or crack through sewer systems, making a mess of the yard and causing costly repairs.
Linden tree roots do not tend to cause a lot of problems. As the tree matures, the root system will continue to expand, but the roots normally do not crack the surface.
Honeylocust, silver maple, oak, ash, and aspen trees pose a greater risk in terms of root damage. These trees have roots that will break the surface, potentially causing damage to sidewalks and foundations.
Aspen trees may not break the surface, but the roots are far-reaching and are known to seek out sewer lines in search of a water source.
Where To Plant A Linden Tree
If you’re sold on planting a linden tree in your yard, the next logical step is deciding where to plant it.
The placement of your linden tree will depend on how you want to shape your yard and what kind of shade you want. Do you want shade to sit under? Or would you rather use a shade tree to keep your home cool?
Plant In The Southwest Corner To Cool Your Home
According to the University of Missouri, shade trees do well near the southwest corner of a house. This will help keep your home cool on sunny summer days and warm on cold winter days.
The reason has to do with the angle of the sun throughout the year. In the summer, your linden tree will cast shade on the house to cool it down. In the winter when all the leaves are shed, sun will be able to reach the home and warm it up.
A tree that also helps you save on your energy bill? Bonus!
Make sure you plant your linden tree an appropriate distance from your home, at least 20 feet. Any closer and the branches may begin rubbing against the house or the roots may reach out beneath the foundation.
Another benefit of planting your linden tree in a southern corner of the yard is that it will act as a windbreak from storms.
Plant Near A Favorite Spot
Shade trees are more than just tools to be used in the yard. They can also be a place to relax, take in a deep breath, and enjoy the scenery.
If you have a favorite spot in the yard or a scenic view, consider planting your linden tree in this area. Try to envision what it will be like when it’s tall enough to provide shade.
One thing to think of before planting a linden tree in your favorite spot is the surrounding area. Make sure there are no flowerbeds or gardens that might be cast in shade once your linden tree grows.
If you already have a linden tree in your yard, consider making the area around it your new favorite spot! You can plant some shade-tolerant flowers nearby like begonias, alyssum, lily-of-the-valley, or astilbe.
While you can purchase these plants online in seed form, it’s better to get them from your local nursery or garden center.
You could also hang a rope swing or a glider from your linden tree to give the kiddos something to do or give yourself a place to sit. Playvibe’s 40 inch Tree Swing Saucer Swing can hang from the branch of your linden tree for tons of summer fun!
Problems With Linden Trees
While there are a lot of benefits to planting a linden tree, it wouldn’t be right to only point out the good. Here are a few cons to planting linden trees:
- Leaf scorch: linden trees are not very tolerant of dry, hot conditions. If it’s super hot and sunny, the leaves may get scorched. Leaf scorch can be fixed by giving your linden tree a deep watering.
- Pests: Linden trees will occasionally play host to a few insect pests such as spider mites, Japanese beetles, borers, and caterpillars.
The best way to prevent pests and other sources from harming your linden tree is to keep it healthy. Give your linden tree enough nutrients and water to thrive.
While mature linden trees do not typically require fertilizer, if you are noticing signs of stress, consider a fertilizer such as The Andersons Professional PGF Complete 16-4-8 Fertilizer. It comes in an 18lb bag and has a solid NPK ratio that will help your linden tree bounce back to life.
Another important step in keeping your linden tree healthy is to keep it watered, especially during dry, hot weather.
That’s A Wrap!
Shade trees are a cool oasis on hot summer days. Picking the right shade tree to plant can be a challenge. One tree that often gets overlooked is the linden tree.
To recap, the things that make linden trees good shade trees include:
- Uniform shape
- Attracts wildlife
- Impressive fall colors
- Beautiful and fragrant summer flowers
- Adaptable
Linden trees make good shade trees. When compared to other deciduous shade trees, they are typically less messy, have stronger branches, and have a more uniform shape.
Remember, you can always ask a professional arborist to help you pick out which linden tree to plant and where to plant it in your yard.
References
Akbari, H. (2002, March). Shade trees reduce building energy use and CO2 emissions from power plants. Environmental Pollution, 116(1), 119-126. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749101002640
Iles, J. K., & Vold, A. M. (2003, November). Landscape tree cultivar preferences in Iowa, U.S. Journal of Arboriculture, 29(6), 331-336.
Santic, Z., Pravdic, N., Bevanda, M., & Galic, K. (2017). The Historical Use of Medicinal Plants in Traditional and Scientific Medicine. Psychiatria Danubina, 29(4), 787-792. https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/383463
Scattolin, L., Alzetta, C., Bolzon, P., Sambo, P., & Accordi, S. M. (2012, November 30). Linden tree stress detection: Chlorophyll-nitrogen contents and ectomycorrhizal community. Plant Biosystems, 147(2), 364-375. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/11263504.2012.747570Vines, R. (2021). Linden Family (Tiliaceae). In Trees of North Texas (pp. 342-346). New York, USA: University of Texas Press. https://doi.org/10.7560/780187-037
