American Linden

• The American linden is native throughout eastern North American, from Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas and the Dakotas. It's a large tree, growing 60 to 100 feet tall and 1/2 to 2/3 as wide. The leaves are large, too, from 3 to 5 inches. American linden has fragrant, yellow flowers in midsummer. Because of its size, American linden is best used on large properties, such as parks and golf courses. It's hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 2 through 8.
  
  

Bee Tree Linden

• White basswood or bee tree linden (T. heteropylla) is very similar to American linden, and in fact is sometimes included as a subspecies of American linden in reference books. Native from West Virginia south, it grows 70 to 80 feet tall. Bee tree linden gets its common name from the fragrant yellow flowers that attract swarms of bees in midsummer. It's hardy in zones 5 through 9.
  
  

Littleleaf Linden

• A European species, littleleaf linden (T. cordata) is smaller than the American lindens, both in height and leaf size. The species grows 50 to 60 feet tall, but many named cultivars are even smaller. Littleleaf linden is a good size for residential shade trees, large planters and street trees, as it's very tolerant of air pollution. It's often used as a tall hedge in Europe. Littleleaf linden has fragrant, yellow flowers in midsummer. Hardiness depends on cultivar but as a general rule, littleleaf lindens are hardy in zones 3 through 7.
  
  

Silver Linden

• The leaves on silver linden (T. tomentosa) are dark green above but covered with white hairs below, giving the tree a silvery sheen when the wind blows. Silver linden usually grows 30 to 40 feet tall and about half as wide. Like all lindens, it blooms in midsummer; the flowers are cream to light yellow. There's a weeping form, the pendant silver linden (T. petiolaris). Both types of silver linden are hardy in zones 5 to 7.
  
  

Other Lindens

• There are several species of linden less commonly found in garden centers. The Mongolian linden (T. mongolica) is a small tree, reaching only 30 feet, with a rounded crown and good yellow fall color; it's hardy in zones 3 to 5. The Crimean linden (T. x euchlora) is a hybrid with littleleaf linden in its lineage; the leaves are similar but the tree's habit is more graceful and weeping. Crimean linden is hardy in zones 3 through 7. European linden is sold as both T. x europaea and T. vulgaris; it's an extremely large tree, growing 70 to 150 feet tall. Hardy in zones 3 to 7, it's disease-prone.