Linden

Do you want to plant a Linden? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Linden, and on pruning and caring for your Linden.
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General characteristics of a Linden

The Dutch linden is a natural cross between the summer lime and the winter lime. The scientific name 'tilia' is derived from the Greek ptilon = wing, after the winged flowers and fruits.

Both in our cityscape and planted in many avenues and along roads you will find the Linden tree. The tree is easy to recognize mainly because in the course of a growing season very many young shoots, called water locks, develop at the base of the Linden. The distinctive yellow inflorescences with flowers spreading a sweet scent also stand out, as do the fruits that come sailing down together with the fruit leaves in autumn.

In June, the deliciously sweet fragrance and the buzzing of bees create a special sensation under these trees. Ecologically, it is a very important species, because forests with lime trees have a high biodiversity, determined to a large extent by the spring blooms in the undergrowth.


 

Characteristics


How to plant a Linden

Roots at least 10 cm below ground level. Dig a planting hole 1.5 x as wide as the root system; make sure the roots are covered with soil; do not plant deeper than to where the stem begins.

Caring for and pruning your Linden

Watering is important in the initial period after planting so that the roots can become well accustomed to the soil. When it is hot and dry for extended periods, give your young tree or old tree extra water to prevent dehydration. But always pay attention to drainage, because a Linden does not like wet feet.

The advantage of Lime trees is that they are easy to prune. This makes the Lime tree suitable as an espalier or hedge, both for a large garden and a small garden. Pruning a Lime tree is best done between November and March.

Where does a Linden grow

The Dutch lime tree thrives best in a sunny to semi-shaded spot in the garden. It grows well in different types of soil, but prefers well-drained, nutrient-rich and moist soil.

The lime tree grows throughout the Netherlands but thrives best in nutrient-rich soil such as in river and stream valleys and in the loess soils of southern Limburg.


General

Origin
Native
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 8 Up to 10 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 15 Up to 800 year
Maximum Age 300 Up to 400 year
Required Space 80 Up to 100m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer No pruning in summer
Winter October tot March
Leaf Shapes Heart-shaped
Easy to prune No

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Egg-shaped

Other

Root
Deeply rooted
Bloom
Has flowers
Has fruits
Wind sensitivity Not sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases Information not available

Harvest/recognition in winter

The buds of Tilia are usually quite large, blunt ovoid to round ovoid with often three finely hairy bud scales of unequal size and with buttress leaf marks. Buds with two bare bud scales without these leaf marks also occur. The color generally matches the color of the twig, so again with light and shade sides and may or may not be shiny and/or dull.

Light requirement of the Linden

The Linden thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Linden

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Linden to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Linden

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Linden in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Linden

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Linden like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? 57
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Hoverflies
    Lice
    Bumblebees
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?
    linden aphid
    Caliroa annulipes

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?
    Eurasian jays
    Eurasian chaffinches
    tits
    Eurasian blackcaps
    Woodpeckers
    Common pheasants
    Hawfinches
    Bohemian waxwings
    Eurasian nuthatches
    European greenfinches

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Squirrels
    wild boars
    deer
    roe deers
    rabbits
    Mice
    brown hares
    European badgers
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer June Up to July

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Badgers
    Squirrel
    Ferret
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Deer
    Dog
    Cat
    Wild boar
    Foxes
    Pig
    Roe deer
    Horse
    Mouse
    Human
    Cow
    Chicken
    Sheep
    Beavers

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). Yes
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Linden looks like

    Linden - a mature tree
    Linden in Winter

    This is what the fruits of a Linden look like

    Fruit of the linden

    This is what a Linden in bloom looks like

    Linden tree in bloom

    This is what the leaf of a Linden looks like

    Leaf of the linden