Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata)

Hardy, deciduous tree
Description: Dark, shiny green leaves turn yellow in fall. Fragrant, yellowish flowers in mid-summer
Habit: Grows 60 to 70 feet high and 30 to 40 feet wide; can be pruned into hedges
Culture: Prefers moist, well drained, fertile soil and full sun to light shade
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3 through 9
Origin: Europe
Attributes: Attracts butterflies and bees, fragrant flowers

This European species has been cultivated as a shade tree since ancient times. It appeared on the nursery lists of John Bartram (Philadelphia) and William Prince (Long Island, NY) during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Thomas Jefferson mentions a related species, the native Tilia americana, in his book, Notes on the State of Virginia. The two magnificent specimens of the Littleleaf Linden that flank the entrance walk to Monticello today were probably planted around the turn of the 20th century. zone3,zone4,zone5,zone6,zone7,zone8,zone9