People have always attributed a positive mythological meaning to the linden tree. As early as the Middle Ages, people met under its leaves to hold festivals and dance, but also to conduct legal negotiations and marry lovers. Have you ever tasted sweet linden honey? Then you will surely want to know more about the deciduous tree. The following profile will bring you closer to the small-leaved lime.

The summer linden is also called large-leaved linden

General

  • German name: summer linden
  • Latin name: Tilia platyphyllos
  • further designation: large-leaved linden
  • Tree species: deciduous tree
  • Family: Mallow family
  • toxic?: no
  • Age: up to 1000 years

External features

leaves

  • Shape: alternate, heart-shaped, notched serrate, tapering to a point
  • Colour: upper side of leaf green, underside of leaf a little lighter with white tufts (difference to small-leaved lime: this one has brown hairs)
  • Length: 5 to 15 cm
  • Width: 5 to 15 cm
  • Autumn colour: yellow

blossom

  • Flowering time: June (the earliest flowering linden species)
  • Color yellow
  • Fragrance: very strong
  • Shape: cymes
  • Length: 7 to 10 cm

branches

  • red-brown
  • hairy

fruit

  • Shape: Spherical, often with three to five edges
  • Type of fruit: Nuts, capsule fruits
  • Color gray
  • Surface: felty, heavily woody
  • Fruit ripening: September
  • Difference to the small-leaved lime: the fruits cannot be crushed between the fingers

bark and wood

  • Color of the bark: grey
  • Structure of the bark: smooth when young, later elongated cracks form
  • Color of the wood: yellowish white sapwood, dark core
  • Nature of the wood: tough, easy to split and work well, dries quickly

root

  • deep rooter
  • forms a taproot
  • forms a heart root
  • Extent of the root exceeds that of the tree crown
  • high proportion of fine roots
  • deep roots protect the summer linden from being uprooted by storms

demands and environmental requirements

location

  • Light conditions: sunny to semi-shady (the more appropriate the other factors, the more shade it can tolerate)
  • Temperature: Frost hardiness up to -28°C
  • can be found singly or in groups, often found in parks
  • goes well with oak or pine

floor

  • Texture: sandy or loamy
  • pH value: slightly acidic or alkaline
  • wet soil (does not tolerate drought)
  • nutrient-rich soils

use

  • for the production of linden blossom tea
  • for the production of linden blossom honey
  • for the production of essential oils
  • as a home remedy for influenza infections or poisoning
  • makes you sweat
  • Wood is used in sculpting, turning or carpentry
  • or made into toys, ornaments and musical instruments
  • the charcoal serves as charcoal

Category:

Trees