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.
I. Appearance and CharacteristicsÂ
Tilia tomentosa, known as silver linden in the US and silver lime in the UK, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, from Romania and the Balkans east to western Turkey, occurring at moderate altitudes.
Tilia tomentosa is a deciduous tree growing to 20–35 m (66–115 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2 m (7 ft) in diameter. The leaves are alternately arranged, rounded to triangular-ovate, 4–13 cm long and broad with a 2.5–4 cm petiole, green and mostly hairless above, densely white tomentose with white hairs below, and with a coarsely toothed margin. The flowers are pale yellow, hermaphrodite, produced in cymes of three to ten in mid to late summer with a pale green subtending leafy bract; they have a strong scent and are pollinated by honeybees. The fruit is a dry nut-like drupe 8–10 mm long, downy, and slightly ribbed.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Silver linden trees like plenty of sunlight and ideally should receive 3-6 hours of light per day. You can plant it somewhere outdoors with sufficient sunlight, such as the sunny side of a house. Sufficient sunlight promotes tree photosynthesis and is conducive to its growth. Silver linden can also grow normally in partial shade, but too little light will reduce the number of flowers or even prevent blooming. Seedlings and saplings are more shade-tolerant. You can add a shade net in summer to protect small trees from too-strong light.
Temperature
Silver linden trees prefer to live in a mild, moist environment and are very cold-hardy. The tree needs to be kept well-hydrated in moist soil for growth. However, it does not tolerate waterlogging. If living in standing water for a long time, the tree can lose leaves or its roots can rot. It will also grow poorly in arid and swampy areas.
Watering
Silver linden does not tolerate drought and prefers moist soil, but also does not like stagnant water. In early spring when there is little rain, dry weather, and strong transpiration, you should provide the tree with more water. During the rainy season, you should stop watering. In the early flowering, late flowering, and fruiting periods, make sure to give it enough water. At the beginning of winter, water thoroughly once and then stop to promote lateral growth and lignification.
Silver linden has a deep root system and generally does not need watering after maturing. However, it will need more water if it encounters a long-term drought. If the soil dries out easily, you can spread an organic mulch on the surface. This reduces evaporation and keeps the soil moist.
Soil
Silver linden has a deep and wide root system and grows best in deep, fertile, well-drained soil. The trees will not grow well in poor soils or waterlogged, non-aerated, clay soils. If the soil is clay-like, add coarse sand to improve its water permeability. The tree prefers alkaline to neutral soils, and can also grow in slightly acidic soils. However, it cannot grow in marshes or saline soils.
Fertilizing
Mix organic or slow-release fertilizer with the soil before planting, and apply nitrogen fertilizer every 20 days after transplanting until early fall. You do not need to apply very much fertilizer each time – just spread it evenly. Mature trees demand less fertilizing, so you can follow up with some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer depending on the tree’s situation to promote the growth of the branches and leaves and improve the plant’s resistance. If the soil is fertile, no fertilization may be necessary.
Planting Instructions
You can buy silver linden seedlings at a garden center. If transplanting the seedlings is necessary, do it in early spring, as this is when they are ready to germinate and grow and the roots can also easily heal and regenerate. After a period of normal growth from early spring to late fall, the tree will have recovered from any transplanting injuries and be prepared for overwintering.
It is best to plant silver linden in the sun, in a 50 to 60 cm deep hole, with sufficient base fertilizer. After planting young trees, fill in the soil and compact it, or create a 10 cm-high soil mound at the bottom of the trunk to keep the soil around the young trees moist and warm. Then, water the tree thoroughly and follow up often to always keep the soil moist. You can also use sticks and iron frames to support the tree in case the wind threatens to blow it down.
Pruning
To keep the silver linden trunk straight, start cutting lateral branches and one-third of the branches growing upward during the first winter or the spring of the second year after planting. Stop when the trunk height reaches 5 to 6 m. Every spring, completely cut off new shoots and branches that sprout near the ground on the trunk as early as possible. Otherwise, these buds can consume too many nutrients and negatively affect trunk growth.
To shape the canopy nicely, prune the trees in winter. Cut overgrown lateral branches, thin the overcrowded branches, and completely cut off diseased and dry branches. To control the overgrowth of lateral branches growing to 20 cm, remove their top buds in early summer.
Transplanting
The best time to transplant silver linden is during late fall to early winter (S9-S10), when the plant is dormant. This timing helps it establish roots without the stress of supporting foliage. For the transplant location, silver linden prefers sunny to partially shaded places. Remember, healthier plants better tolerate the stress of transplantation, so regularly check the plant’s condition before the move.
III. Uses and BenefitsÂ
Silver linden wood is slightly soft and easy to work. It can be used to make general furniture, interior decoration, and other materials. If you keep bees, the tree’s linden flowers are a good place for them to collect nectar. Silver linden nectar is abundant and of good quality, which can be used to make honey jams and snacks. You can also gather linden flowers in the summer and dry them to make linden tea.
