Littleleaf Linden

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.

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