Tilia americana

The dark, green glossy leaves of an American basswood contrast against its light green bracts - specialized leaves that grow on the same stem as its fruits.
An American basswood outside of Rockwell Hall.
The fuzzy, light green fruit of an American basswood.
An American basswood covered in long, thin growths known as spindle-galls. The galls are formed by the plant in response to egg-laying by a tiny mite. The gall forms to enclose the developing mite that eventually hatches as an adult.

Scientific name: Tilia americana

Common name: American basswood

Native: Yes

Native range: Native to the northeastern and midwestern United States [1,2,3,4].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for T. americana.

USDA Zones: 3-8 [3]

Maximum age: May live up to 200 years or longer [4].

Ecology: It is susceptible to the linden aphid, an invasive aphid that likely hitched a ride with cultivated European lindens, such as Tilia euchlora [6,7]. The presence of aphids on its leave attracts ladybugs, voracious aphid predators [7]. The seeds are eaten by small mammals and birds, while deer browse the foliage [1,2,4]. Its flowers are an important source of nectar for honeybees [2]. It hosts a number of native butterflies and moths, including swallowtails (Papilio spp.) and several large, saturniid moths such as the cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia) [8].

Ethnobotany: American basswood is a common feature of plantings along city streets, admired for its stature and abundant, fragrant flowers [1,2,4,6]. Indigenous American groups use it for a variety of medicinal purposes, as well as a source of fiber for cordage [5]. Its sap is sugary and can be boiled into syrup [1,2].