Littleleaf Linden

Tilia cordata

Malvaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced

Last updated May 11, 2026

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

Height

50-70 ft" # Source: OSU Landscape Plants (60-70 ft); MBG (50-70 ft, rarely to 100 ft); NC State (50-60 ft)

Spread

35-50 ft" # Source: NC State Extension; UF/IFAS EDIS

Growth Rate

Moderate

Light

Sun to Part Shade

Soil

Adaptable

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 3b–8b

Bloom Time

June

Fall Color

Yellow to yellow-green

Origin

Europe

Sooty MoldModerate

Scale Insect Emergence and Honeydew Production

AphidModerate

Spring Colonization

Lecanium scaleModerate

Spring Feeding & Egg Production

Phenological Calendar

As of May 13, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1906.2 to 2098.2 GDD₃₂. Littleleaf Linden typically reaches bloom start at 3148 GDD₃₂, predicted around Jun 22.

Regional Season Tracker

GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of May 13, 2026

Station	GDD₃₂	Current Stage	Next	To Go
Issaquah / East King	2,098	Pre-season	Full bloom	929
Kent / Auburn	2,089	Pre-season	Full bloom	938
Seattle / UW	2,063	Pre-season	Full bloom	964
Olympia / Tumwater	2,025	Pre-season	Full bloom	1,002
Tacoma / Puyallup	1,993	Pre-season	Full bloom	1,034
Bellingham / Whatcom	1,972	Pre-season	Full bloom	1,055
Sequim / Rain Shadow	1,906	Pre-season	Full bloom	1,121

Stage	GDD₃₂	Typical Window	What to Look For
Bud break BBCH 07	—	Feb 15-Mar 15	Small reddish-brown buds swelling; first green tissue visible at bud tips
Leaf emergence BBCH 11	—	Mar 1-Apr 1	First heart-shaped leaves unfurling; pale green, glossy above, with characteristic tufts of brown hair in vein axils beneath
Bloom start BBCH 61	3148	Jun 1-Jun 30 est. Jun 22 (avg)	First pendulous flower clusters opening; pale yellow flowers with distinctive strap-shaped bracts; fragrance noticeable beneath canopy
○ Full bloom BBCH 65 NEXT	3027	— est. Jun 18 (avg)	Crown in full flower; heavy bee and pollinator activity; strong honeyed fragrance; honeydew from linden aphid may begin
Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69	—	Jun 15-Jul 15	Last petals and bracts falling; small green nutlets developing on spent flower stalks
Fruit/seed development BBCH 71	—	Jul 15-Sep 15	Small globose nutlets (5-8 mm) developing, attached to persistent bract; green turning gray-brown
Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85	—	Sep 1-Nov 30	Nutlets fully hardened, gray-brown with pubescence; bract-attached clusters detach and helicopter to ground in wind
Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93	—	Oct 1-Nov 15	Leaves turning pale yellow to yellow-green; color generally undistinguished; leaf drop begins
Dormancy BBCH 97	—	Nov 15-Feb 28	Leafless; small reddish-brown buds visible; gray-brown ridged bark prominent on mature trunks

Regional estimate

Range: 2365–2748 GDD₃₂ (6yr)

Sources: USDA Plants Database (seasonal estimate) ; OSU phenology catalog (OSU: weather.cfaes.osu.edu) About GDD₃₂ →

Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of May 13, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through May 29, 2026, then climate normals.

Diseases: Regionally Documented (2)

Symptom category — not a single disease Canker Fumago vagans Sooty Mold

Pests: Regionally Documented (7)

Aphidoidea Aphid Hyphantria cunea Fall webworm Parthenolecanium spp. Lecanium scale Eriophyes tiliae Linden gall mite Tetranychidae Spider mite Eucallipterus tiliae Linden aphid Various (Cynipidae, Cecidomyiidae, Eriophyidae, Psyllidae) Leaf galls

Cultivars (5)

'Greenspire' Greenspire®

Industry standard. Strong central leader, pyramidal form, 40-50 ft tall x 35 ft wide. More urban-tolerant than other cultivars. Dense, symmetrical canopy.

Hardy to USDA Zone 3. Best overall selection for street and shade tree use.

'Corinthian' Corinthian® (Corzam)

Narrow pyramidal, 45 ft x 15 ft. Glossy dark green leaves. One of the narrowest cultivars; good for tight spaces.

'Chancellor' Chancellor™ (Chancole)

Upright to pyramidal, fast-growing for the species. Strong single trunk. 40-55 ft tall.

'Glenleven'

Conical to pyramidal, fast-growing. More open canopy than 'Greenspire,' straight trunk. Canadian selection.

'Rancho'

Narrow upright, compact. Very small fine-textured leaves. 25-30 ft x 15-20 ft. Good for small spaces.

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

Data Maturity

Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.