Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata
Malvaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Littleleaf linden is a reliable street and shade tree for the Puget Sound lowlands. It tolerates urban pollution, compacted soil, and periodic drought better than most trees of comparable size. The fragrant yellow flowers in June-July are a genuine asset. The downside is aphids: linden aphid (Eucallipterus tiliae) colonizes the undersides of leaves, produces honeydew, and sooty mold follows. In bad years, everything under a linden gets coated. This is a siting consideration, not a health threat to the tree. Do not park cars under lindens from June through August. The tree responds well to pollarding for size control, which is useful on smaller properties. Four diseases are documented but none are serious in our climate. 'Greenspire' is the standard cultivar and it performs well here.
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist
Littleleaf linden is a European deciduous tree reaching 60 ft with a single-stem, erect form. It produces fragrant yellow flowers in late June or early July and has small, fine-textured green foliage that turns yellow in fall. The bark is gray-brown.
Littleleaf linden is hardy in zones 3b-8b and thrives in sun to part shade with adaptable soil (pH 5.0-8.0) and moderate moisture. It is slow-growing but long-lived with low maintenance. It tolerates drought and is used for shade, street tree, and flowering applications. Pollarding is acceptable for form control.
Quick Facts
Phenological Calendar
As of April 3, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1070 to 1180.6 GDD₃₂. Littleleaf Linden typically reaches bloom start at 3148 GDD₃₂, predicted around Jun 28.
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Apr 3, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 1,181 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,846 |
| Seattle / UW | 1,171 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,856 |
| Kent / Auburn | 1,111 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,916 |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 1,106 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,921 |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,101 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,926 |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,075 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,952 |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,070 | Pre-season | Full bloom | 1,957 |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| Bloom start BBCH 61 | 3148 | Jun 1-Jun 30 est. Jun 28 (avg) |
| ○ Full bloom BBCH 65 NEXT | 3027 | — est. Jun 23 (avg) |
| Bud break BBCH 07 | — | Feb 15-Mar 15 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | — | Mar 1-Apr 1 |
| Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69 | — | Jun 15-Jul 15 |
| Fruit/seed development BBCH 71 | — | Jun 1-Aug 31 |
| Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85 | — | Sep 1-Nov 30 |
| Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93 | — | Oct 1-Nov 15 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | — | Nov 15-Feb 28 |
GDD = Growing Degree Days (base 32°F, Jan 1 start). Why base 32? Source GDD₅₀ thresholds from Herms 2004 (OSU, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio) and UMD IPMnet (Gill & Klick, mid-Atlantic), converted to GDD₃₂ via Kent bloom-date mapping. Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Apr 3, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Apr 19, 2026, then climate normals.