How to identify American basswood (Tilia americana)

How to identify American basswood (Tilia americana)

American basswood, also known as American lime

American basswood presents as a majestic deciduous tree reaching heights of 60 to 80 feet (18 to 24 meters) with a substantial spread of 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 meters). The bark is distinguished by its gray, deeply furrowed texture. Its leaves are noticeably large, dark green, and glossy on top, with a contrasting matte gray beneath. From May to July, american basswood showcases aromatic yellow flowers in five-inch (12.7 cm) drooping clusters. The tree produces a small, downy nutlet, dry to the touch and creamy in color.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify American basswood

Deciduous tree reaching 60-80 feet (18-24 meters) with large, glossy dark green leaves.

Aromatic yellow flowers in 5-inch (12.7 cm) drooping clusters from May to July.

Diminutive, downy cream-colored nutlet approximately 0.25 inches (6 mm) in diameter.

Light green twigs with tomentose hairs and plump false terminal buds.

Bark transitions from smooth gray to deeply furrowed with longitudinal ridges over time.

Detailed Traits of American basswood

Leaf Features

The leaves of american basswood are simple, alternately arranged, and ovate to cordate with an asymmetrical, unequal base. Measuring up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm) wide, they feature coarsely serrated margins. The upper surface is dark green, while the underside is a matte gray. Young leaves have downy hairs on the undersides, which become smooth as they mature.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of american basswood are characterized by 5-inch (12.7 cm) long drooping clusters of fragrant, showy yellow blooms. Each flower has five sepals and petals, with numerous stamens. The flower stem is notably attached to the middle of a leaf-like bract. These blossoms attract bees in abundance and typically bloom from May to July.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of american basswood is characterized by light green young twigs, covered with tomentose or tomentose-hirsute hairs, giving it a soft, fuzzy texture. The terminal bud is notably false, each very plump, with one side bulging disproportionately. The thickness varies depending on the age of the stem, and its branching pattern is consistent with new growth emerging from these distinctive buds. These features are critical for identifying the stem of american basswood.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of american basswood is a diminutive, globose, and downy. This hard, dry nutlet is similar in size to a pea, approximately 0.25 inches (6 mm) in diameter. Its cream-colored husk encapsulates a hard seed. A striking characteristic is the fruit's attachment to a leafy, wing-like bract, which facilitates wind dispersal. Available in midsummer, these nutlets are borne on stalks that allow them to dangle, adding a distinct aspect to the fruit's appearance.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them

Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

American basswood and Their Similar Plants

Large-leaved lime vs. American basswood: What's The Difference?

Large-leaved lime is a plant species native to Europe. Ironically, it grows in soils rich in the mineral called lime. This species' scientific name, Tilia platyphyllos, means "broad leaves." It is widely cultivated around the world as an ornamental tree, often planted in parks and city streets because of its hardy, versatile nature. Wood from the large-leaved lime is used for carving. It is an old species: its fossilized remains have been found in Turkey from the Pliocene epoch.

Small-leaved lime vs. American basswood: What's The Difference?

Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) is a deciduous tree that is cultivated all over the world as an ornamental plant in parks and avenues. Honeybees like to visit the flowers; monofloral honey made from this species is considered to be very nutritious. British ship outfitters used small-leaved lime wood for onboard furniture; French shipwrights thought the weak wood was used for shipbuilding and introduced the epithet, "limey," for British people.

Silver linden vs. American basswood: What's The Difference?

Silver linden is a large deciduous tree that shimmers with the breeze. It has creamy white flowers rich in nectar, attracting bees and also being valuable for butterflies. In Romania, there’s a bronze bust of the poet Mihai Eminescu who often spent time under the silver linden tree with his loved one Veronica Micle.

Mongolian lime vs. American basswood: What's The Difference?

Mongolian lime (Tilia mongolica) is an ornamental tree that is popular for its small size, making it ideal for gardens. Its serrated leaves offer several seasons of interest as they emerge as bronze, turn to green in summer, and then to yellow in the fall. The common name, "Mongolian lime," and specific epithet, mongolica, refer to this plant's native range in Mongolia.

Identify American basswood easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About American basswood

Attributes of American basswood

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

18 m to 37 m

Spread

9 m to 15 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

1 cm to 1.4 cm

Flower Color

Yellow

Fruit Color

Brown

Copper

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of American basswood

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Mallows, rock-roses, and allies

Family

Mallow

Genus

Lindens

Species

American basswood (Tilia americana)

Learn More About the American basswood

Distribution Map of American basswood

American basswood is native to a range of North and South America from Canada to Mexico. It has further been naturalized in Uzbekistan. It is narrowly specialized for sugar maple and basswood forests, which are common in North America but also sometimes found in other forests.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the American basswood

A Comprehensive Guide to American basswood How to Grow and Care for American basswood