- Description
- Linden species
- small-leaved
- large-leaved
- ordinary
- Manchu
- Caucasian
- European
- Silvery
- Reproduction and care
- Wood
The genus of deciduous trees tilia, or linden, has about 45 species. Most of them grow in temperate and subtropical climatic zones. The distribution area includes Europe, Southeast Asia, the Far East, the North American mainland. The linden family belongs to the relict ones that existed on the planet in the pre-glacial period.
Description
Depending on soil fertility and illumination, both large woody forms of linden plantations and small shrubs are found. In its natural environment, linden adapts to almost any habitat conditions, but prefers well-moistened nutrient soils. These species are characterized by frost resistance, the ability to tolerate wind and drought.
A characteristic feature of lindens is their low susceptibility to diseases and insect pests .
Many species are long-lived, the age of the trees is 300–400 years, and older specimens have been recorded - 1000 years old. Trunks of large species can reach a length of more than 30 m, trees begin to branch at a height of 1.5–2 m from the ground, by the age of 30 they usually become mature. The bark of young plantations is brown or olive in color, smooth. In mature trees, it is dark thick, dotted with deep cracks. The crown is oval ovoid, very dense. The root system is powerful and developed, penetrates deep into the soil.
The leaves of the linden are heart-shaped, wide and rounded at the base and pointed towards the ends, matte or dark green. These plants are excellent honey plants. In early June, fluffy yellowish flowers bloom on them, collected in inflorescences and secreting nectar. In autumn, in their place, linden fruits are formed - small nuts with seeds. The flowering period lasts about 2-3 weeks. At this time, the tree emits a specific pleasant aroma that attracts bees. Linden honey is considered by many to be the most useful and delicious. In addition, linden is a well-known medicinal plant, since its flowers and buds have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic effect. This herbal raw material is part of the fees for the treatment of respiratory diseases and SARS.
Linden species
Lindens can grow singly, but most of the plantations are in forests. The "favorite" neighbors of these trees are ash, oak, pine, maple, spruce. In addition to mixed forests, lindens form large-scale pure plantations.
In the wild and cultivated, both pure and hybrid varieties of the tree are found.
small-leaved
Another name is heart-shaped linden, due to the shape of the leaves. This species perfectly tolerates adverse environmental conditions, including strong winds, drought and frost. The life span of a tree can reach 400 years or more. In the process of growth, its trunks stretch to a height of 25–30 m, the branches form a spreading crown, similar to a tent: the upper shoots are directed upwards, the middle ones are almost horizontal, and the lower ones look down. The leaves have a relatively small size - about 3-4 cm, heart-shaped and pointed apex. Their upper part is glossy and dark, the back is lighter, slightly rough to the touch. In June, small-leaved linden is covered with fluffy panicles of inflorescences of 6–8 flowers; in August, small nuts with seeds inside ripen in their place.
This type of linden is distributed throughout Europe, including its Russian part, in the Caucasus, in Western Siberia.
large-leaved
This species is outwardly similar to the small-leaved, but it tolerates severe frosts worse, therefore it grows mainly in the southern regions of Europe and the Caucasus. Many large-leaved lindens are real giants and centenarians: they can grow up to 500 years of age. In cross section, their trunks reach 80–100 cm, and rise to a height of 40 m. The leaves, in accordance with the name of the tree, are large in size - up to 14 cm, edges with small teeth, slightly pubescent on the back. The crown has an almost pyramidal shape. The inflorescences of this linden are much smaller than those of the small-leaved linden: 2–4 flowers each. The flowering period lasts 2 weeks from mid-June.
The large-leaved species prefers fertile soil, but the trees themselves improve its composition: the foliage that falls in autumn quickly fades, forming humus. This linden is often planted in gardens and parks, as it has high decorative qualities, forms a dense shade, and purifies the air.
ordinary
This is a hybrid species formed in the natural environment with the help of cross-pollination of large-leaved and small-leaved. According to the properties, the height of the trunk, the shape of the crown resembles relatives, it begins to bloom a few weeks earlier - at the end of May or in the first days of June. Inflorescences - as in a small-leaved variety, the leaves are dark green, smooth, covered with sweet juice when flowering, attracting bees. Common linden is a good honey plant. In addition, it is excellent for landscaping in urban areas: it withstands polluted air, dust, wind, frost, lack of sunlight, and is not sensitive to drought.
Manchu
In Russia, it is found in the forests of the Far East, but, being planted in European regions, it takes root well in them. It loves moist soils, is frost-resistant, tolerates shaded places well. The trunks of the Manchurian linden are often branched and relatively low - the maximum height is about 20 m, the crown is sprawling and dense. The leaves of this species are very large - 25–30 cm, pubescent, the inflorescences are also powerful, consisting of 10–12 flowers.
Caucasian
This species prefers a warm, humid climate and fertile soils, grows in the forests of the Caucasus, Crimea, and is also found in Asia Minor. The Caucasian linden lives up to 400 years, its trunks reach more than 1.5 m in diameter, and the trees stretch up to 35–40 m in height. Young shoots are reddish in color, darkening with age. The leaves are large - up to 15 cm, bright green in color, slightly pubescent, with a lighter shade on the underside. The tree blooms in late June or early July, the inflorescences are large and fluffy, drooping down. The fruit is a nut about 1 cm in size with a seed inside.
European
The main habitat is mixed and deciduous forests of Western Europe. These trees live for 100-150 years, they look powerful: they reach 1.5-2 m in diameter, 40 m in height. The foliage is bright green, heart-shaped, its back part is rough. The crown is wide and dense, the bark of the tree is dark gray, in adults and old specimens it is covered with deep cracks.
Silvery
This linden has pronounced differences from other species. The color of its foliage is dark green, the back side is grayish-silver, covered with thick fluff. Thanks to this, the tree has a second name - felt. The leaves themselves are medium in size - about 7-8 cm, at the height of summer their edges are slightly wrapped inward, which is why the crown has a beautiful variegated silver-green hue. In autumn, the foliage does not turn yellow, but withers, remaining on the branches for a long time. The flowers are very small, yellowish.
Young shoots of felt linden are also pubescent, becoming smooth over time. The bark of the trees is gray, as the trunks mature, it darkens and coarsens.
The species is distributed in the Balkans, in Western Europe, the Crimea, the Caucasus.
Reproduction and care
Planting lindens is a great way to create a beautiful landscape that is appropriate for house adjoining areas, squares and parks. These trees improve the microclimate, fill the air with the pleasant aroma of flowers in summer, and when planted outside the city, they allow the collection and use of useful color.
It is possible to propagate trees by seeds, but it is very laborious and time consuming. Not all of them remain viable, and, given the long dormant period, seedlings can wait more than one year. It is much more rational to use layering or basal shoots of linden as planting material. To root the layering, the lateral lower shoots are inclined to the soil and fixed, lightly sprinkled with it. It will take 1-2 years to wait for the roots, then the branches just need to be released from the soil and separated from the tree. Do it at the end of March.
From the roots of the linden, new shoots make their way up quite often, one has only to carefully detach them from the mother plant. You can also purchase ready-made seedlings.
For planting, a mixture of soddy soil, humus and sand is preferable. Holes are dug in proportion to the size of the roots of the seedlings, so that their upper part is flush with the surface. Drainage from broken bricks or small stones is laid at the bottom. The distance between the pits when planting several trees is at least 3 m.
Care for young lindens requires careful care. In the first 2–3 years, weekly watering is necessary, top dressing at least once a month with nitrogenous fertilizers. For the winter, it is important to warm the seedlings with mulch made of sawdust or pine needles. Mature trees can not be watered, and they need to be fertilized 1-2 times a season.
Trimming branches to form a crown begins no earlier than the third year of life.
Wood
The massif is represented by equal-density sapwood of pale yellow or pinkish color. The texture is weakly expressed, the natural pattern is a bit like a birch. The gloss of the surface is soft, slightly matte.
The quality characteristics of linden wood are somewhat lower than those of pine or oak. The overall shrinkage factor is 0.58. During the pre-drying process, the wood almost does not warp or crack due to the uniform saturation with moisture. The density of dry lumber is about 450 kg/m³. The strength and resistance to mechanical stress in linden is small, similar to aspen wood. It is prone to swelling, does not hold nails and staples well, and is prone to rotting and fungal attack.
The advantages of linden are plasticity and ease of processing: the material bends perfectly, is cut, sawn, impregnated with coloring agents and stains, glued and polished.
Linden has long been used for the construction of barns, beehives, chests, chests, barrels for sauerkraut, vats for winemaking, and kitchen utensils were made: scoops, ladles, spoons, pots. Bast was especially valued: bast shoes were woven from young bast, mats were knitted.
Today, linden is used in furniture and turning production, toys, pencils, blanks for decoration are turned from it. Saunas and baths are sheathed with linden lining, shelves are made from boards. Due to its low thermal conductivity, this wood reduces the likelihood of burns when touched in a hot room.
On a sultry hot day, it is pleasant to relax in the shade of an old sprawling linden - and a beautiful tree that has a lot of valuable properties and qualities. How often do we think about what a tree like a linden is?
Ornamental species: dark green and begonial.
The species is distributed in the broad-leaved forests of the Crimea, it is a natural hybrid of the Caucasian and small-leaved linden.
The height of the tree is up to 20 meters. The crown is oval, dense. The branches are drooping.
The leaves are 12 cm, oval, dark green on the outside and dull on the inside, in the corners of the veins there are tufts of brown hairs.
Flowering time - early June, duration - two weeks. Flowers have 3-7 pieces in an inflorescence.
A young tree grows slowly, as it matures, growth accelerates.
It is resistant to frost and drought, easily tolerates shade.
Distributed in the forests of Europe, Ukraine, Moldova, the Caucasus. 
The trunk is up to 35 meters high, reaches a diameter of up to 6 meters. The crown is spreading, has the shape of a wide pyramid. Young shoots are brownish-red, pubescent, young shoots are bare.
Oval 14-centimeter leaves are fleecy, dark green on the outside, light on the inside, hairs in the corners of the veins.
Flowering occurs in July, the flowers are yellow or cream, from 2 to 5 pieces per inflorescence. The fruit is in the form of a nut, round, ribbed.
The tree grows quickly, the soil loves fertile. Moderately resistant to frost, gas pollution.
Differs in durability: it can live up to 500 years of age, some specimens live for more than a thousand years.Decorative types of large-leaved linden: golden, vine-leaved, pyramidal, dissected-leaved.
It grows in the southern regions of the Far East. 
The tree grows up to 20 meters. It is often multi-stemmed, the bark is black, cracked.
Its crown has the shape of a wide oval. It has exceptionally large, up to 30 cm, leaves, pubescent on the underside.
Blooms in July, flowering lasts about three weeks. Flowers 1-1.5 cm in diameter, powerful inflorescences, 8-12 flowers, drooping.
Did you know? Due to the drooping type of inflorescences, nectar is not washed off during rain, and bees can do their job even in rainy weather.
Densely pubescent nuts with a diameter of 1 cm ripen in August.
Very decorative tree with high frost resistance.
It grows in the Crimean-Caucasian region, in the European part of Russia, as well as in Siberia, and Western Europe. Another name - heart-shaped linden - received for the shape of the leaves.
It reaches 30 meters in height, the trunk is more than a meter in diameter, cylindrical in shape. The young bark is gray, smooth, the old darkens, becomes rough. 
The diameter of the hipped crown is 10-15 meters.
Did you know? The small-leaved linden has an interesting design: the upper branches grow upwards, the middle ones approach a horizontal position, the lower ones hang down to the ground.
The leaves are small (3-6 cm), heart-shaped, the upper part is green, shiny, the lower part is gray-gray.
It blooms for about two weeks in late June or early July. The flowers are small, yellow-white, in each inflorescence from 5 to 7 pieces. Fruits, round smooth nuts, ripen by August.
An exceptionally frost- and drought-resistant tree, loves fertile light soil, however, it improves it itself.
It grows slowly at first, 30 cm per year. Used for planting along alleys, in parks, good in single plantings and as a plant.
Life expectancy is over 500 years.
Small-leaved linden and large-leaved linden have much in common in their biological characteristics, but there are some differences:
- the leaves of the small-leaved bloom two weeks earlier;
- small-leaved blooms two weeks later;
- the flowers of the large-leaved are larger, but there are fewer of them in the inflorescence;
- small-leaved is less demanding on fertility and soil quality;
- large-leaved tolerates drought better;
- large-leaved is more suitable for urban conditions.
Linden (Tilia x vulgaris Hayne)
This species is a natural hybrid of small-leaved and large-leaved lindens. 
In terms of its characteristics, it resembles the first, but has some differences:
- blooms two weeks earlier than small-leaved linden;
- growing faster;
- more resistant to frost;
- tolerates urban conditions better;
- the leaves are larger, the crown is wider.
It grows on the territory of Western Siberia, loves loneliness, but sometimes forms “linden islands” in the forests, the description of which mentions the presence of aspens. 
Growth reaches 30 meters, the diameter of the trunk is 2 - 5 meters. The young bark is brown, with scales, the old one is dark, with cracks.
The leaves are small, up to 5 cm long, rounded, the top is green, the bottom is light, with hairs.
Flowering takes two weeks at the end of July. The flowers are white with yellowness, form a spherical ovary. The fruit is a pear-shaped nut with 1 to 3 seeds, ripens in September.
Loves moist soddy-podzolic soil with lime and light, tolerates shade. Completely incompatible with waterlogged soils. City conditions accept favorably.
It grows slowly, belongs to centenarians: it can live a thousand years.
It grows in East Asia, in broad-leaved subtropical forests. 
The height of the tree is up to 20 meters, the young bark is smooth, brown, old in grooves, dark. The crown is highly located, has an oval shape, compact.
The leaves are small, 5-7 cm, oval, often symmetrical, green on the outside, glaucous on the inside with hairs in the corners of the veins.
Flowering occurs in July or August for two weeks. The flowers are small (1 cm), collected in large numbers in drooping inflorescences.
Fruits - round smooth pubescent nuts - ripen by September.
The Japanese linden grows slowly. It has frost resistance, is an exclusively melliferous plant. Tea containing leaves of the Japanese linden is very valuable.
Within the framework of one article it is impossible to put everything that should be told about the linden - a wonderful and amazing tree, literally all parts of which benefit people. There are more than 40 varieties of it. Cultivated linden, the species of which are described in this article, is selected and used for various purposes in urban plantings and private farms.
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Great landscape tree. The brightest and most cordial, can become your family amulet!
Crown diameter of an adult plant (m): 25
Height of an adult plant (m): 40
Description
Large-leaved linden grows twice as fast as small-leaved linden, blooms two weeks earlier, and its leaves are 5 times larger. It tolerates drought better, is more stable and durable in urban environments.
If you want to enjoy the amazing smell of your blooming lindens for a longer time, plant large-leaved and small-leaved lindens nearby.
Easily cut.
plant life span
Lives for over 200 years.
Crown
The crown is dense, broadly pyramidal with reddish-brown, fluffy, rarely bare young shoots. With age, it becomes more rounded, vaulted.
Needles/Foliage
Leaves 8-15 cm long, alternate, curved heart-shaped, shortly pointed, sharply and irregularly serrated, yellowish-green, first pubescent above, later glabrous, below slightly pubescent, white-gray at the junction of the veins. Petioles 2-6 cm long. Autumn color is yellow, fall off early.
Bloom
The flowers are yellowish-cream, fragrant, collected in inflorescences of 2-5 flowers, with a characteristic light green bract (peduncle fused with the median vein in the upper third of the bract).
Begins to bloom at 15-20 years.
flowering time
June July,
Fruit
The fruit is a large, thick-shelled nut with strongly protruding ribs, covered with hairs.
Requirements
Large-leaved linden is not demanding on the soil, but prefers fertile and well-drained soils.
Landing
Pour pebbles, gravel or beaten brick about 15 cm into the prepared pit with a depth of 1.5 m x 1.5 m, then about 10 cm of compost, adding up to 55 g of superphosphate to it. Place the plant, straightening the roots, in the center, without deepening the root collar.
Fill the mixture with turf, humus, and sand in ratios of 1: 2: 2 and water well.
Plants with an open root system are planted in spring and autumn. Plants with a clod of earth from a container - from spring to late autumn.
Care
Care: loosening, weeding, fertilizing, mulching, sanitary and formative pruning, preventive treatment from possible diseases and pests.
At a young age, watering is regular 2-3 times a week, with age - as needed.
Winter-hardy from the latitude of St. Petersburg and to the south.
Pests: red fruit mite. Protection - insecticides.
Diseases: leaf spot, leading to their early drying and falling off. For prevention, early spring treatments for dormant buds with copper sulphate are recommended.
reproduction
Propagated by seeds, layering, shoots, cuttings, grafting.
Large-leaved linden grows in the forests of the western part of Ukraine, in the Caucasus, in Central and Southern Europe. Very widespread in culture.
Large-leaved linden
Large-leaved linden, or Broad-leaved linden, Flat-leaved linden, Summer linden (Tilia platyphyllos)
Species of the genus Linden (Tilia) of the family Malvaceae (Malvaceae); Previously, the genus Linden was usually distinguished into an independent family Linden (Tiliaceae).
The popular name is a lutoshka or a washcloth.
Tree up to 35 m in height.
The bark is dark gray or gray-brown, shallowly furrowed.
Young shoots are thick, reddish-brown, sparsely pubescent or glabrous.
The branches are protruding, ascending and diverging in rays, in the upper tier of the crown inclined downward. Kidneys oblong, naked, 4 - 5 mm long, 2.5 - 3 mm wide.
During flowering, it saturates the air with a pleasant honey aroma.
Large-leaved linden grows twice as fast as small-leaved linden, blooms two weeks earlier, and its leaves are 5 times larger. Annual growth in height 45 cm, width 35 cm.
It tolerates drought better, is more stable and durable in urban environments.
Linden is unpretentious, drought-resistant, shade-tolerant, grows slowly, is not damaged by insects and diseases. Demanding on the soil, prefers fertile substrates.
An excellent honey plant, and can significantly increase honey productivity. On 1 hectare of pure stands, this species can produce about 900 kilograms of nectar and 100 kilograms of pollen.
It is used for single plantings, for creating alleys and arrays, loves space, can be grown in the bonsai style.
If you want to enjoy the amazing smell of your blooming lindens for a longer time, plant large-leaved and small-leaved lindens nearby.
Winter-hardy from the latitude of St. Petersburg and to the south. Durable, can live up to 300 years.
In medicine, inflorescences, leaves, flowers of the plant are used.
Landing: Linden seeds must be stratified before sowing and this is done for 3-4 months in wet sand, wrapped in gauze and put in the refrigerator.
It can be planted in the spring both immediately in the ground (early May) and at home at any time, starting in February.
The method of sowing at home is even more preferable, the seedlings turn out better, and as soon as the seedlings stretch to 10-15 cm, they can be transplanted into the ground, either into the garden for further growing for 1-2 years, or to a permanent place.
The soil for sowing linden should be loose, ventilated, for this you can add a little peat or rotted sawdust. Also, gardeners often add sand to the ground in order to loosen it. The depth of seeding is 1-1.5 cm.
After sowing, the box is covered with foil and placed in a warm place. Seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks, then the film is removed, and the box is placed in a lighted place, usually on a windowsill on the sunny side.
As soon as the sprouts are sufficiently strengthened and gain strength, they should no longer be covered.
During the germination of linden seeds, the ambient air temperature should not be below 20C. Seedlings should receive enough sunlight to accelerate the process of photosynthesis.
Measures for the care of linden seedlings consist in the obligatory loosening of the soil layer and timely watering. After 3 weeks from the moment of emergence of seedlings, they must be thinned out in order to get rid of weak shoots.
Then all the resulting plants are planted in separate pots. This contributes to their further strengthening and growth. For this event, soil similar in composition to the one in which the seeds germinated is needed.
When transplanting seedlings, you need to carefully handle the root system, as it is still quite weak and can be damaged.
With the onset of real heat, which happens during the period of May, the seedlings obtained earlier are planted in an open area.
The tree belongs to the Linden family, referred to as large-leaved linden (Tilia platyphyllos) or broad-leaved. The popular name is lutoshka or washcloth. The broad-leaved linden grows in Asia, North America and Europe. Likes bright places, fertile soil and moderate watering. The maximum tree height is 35 meters. On average, lives about 600 years. Linden is propagated by planting seeds.
Description of broad-leaved linden
A fairly large tree, it can reach a height of 35 meters. The crown is very dense, similar to a pyramid or dome. The root system becomes very powerful with age. The structure of the trunk is straight with a thin, smooth bark of a light gray color. In an adult tree, the bark becomes brownish and cracks appear. Young branches are red-brown, velvety.
Leaves of a peculiar shape, in the form of a heart with different sides and a point at the top. They are dark green above and lighter below. Each young leaf has pairs of stipules with a reddish tint, but they do not last long. On the reverse side of the leaf there is a tuft of hairs.
Linden blossoms in summer, in July, with beautiful fragrant flowers. Each of them is collected in a semi-umbrella of 5 pieces of light yellow color. The tree blooms for about 10 days. The fruits ripen in mid-autumn - this is a lionfish with a nut in a dense shell.
Linden grows quickly, is not afraid of frost. The soil prefers good and fertile. It treats shaded places calmly, but loves a lot of light more, tolerates drought well. In the city limits, it takes root normally. Shearing and trimming does not harm her. It can exist for a long time - up to 600 years. There is a linden with different decorative forms.
A similar tree grows in the territory of Southern and Northern Europe, in the vastness of Ukraine. In the mixed forests of Russia, it can also be found, more in the European part of the country, up to the Ural Mountains. It occupies large territories in the middle Volga region and is distributed in Bashkortostan. It is found in the regions of the Crimea and the lands of the Caucasus. It grows singly and in groups. It can grow on steep surfaces, rocks and slopes. The soil is improving underneath. It gets along well with other deciduous trees, conifers and various shrubs.
Linden broad-leaved looks great in landscape design when landscaping urban recreation areas. Can be used as a hedge or for bosquets. Linden flowers, its leaves and inflorescences are widely used for medicinal purposes.