White Basswood is a stately deciduous tree native to eastern North America, prized for its elegant form and fragrant early summer blooms. Growing 50 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 60 feet wide (occasionally taller), this variety thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 7, making it hardy enough for cold climates yet adaptable to warmer regions. Its ovate-rounded crown and showy, fragrant flowers in June attract butterflies and birds in abundance, while its proven drought tolerance and low maintenance requirements make it an excellent choice for established landscapes.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-7
960in H x 720in W
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Moderate
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The fragrant June flowers are genuinely showy, drawing pollinators in impressive numbers. White Basswood adapts to a wide range of growing conditions, from full sun to partial shade, and once established handles drought well without constant attention. Its substantial mature size creates a cooling canopy over time, and the tree's natural form requires minimal pruning, making it a rewarding long-term investment for gardeners in colder zones who want to establish a permanent shade presence.
White Basswood serves as both a shade tree and street tree, valued for its ability to provide substantial canopy coverage in landscapes. The fragrant flowers attract butterflies and birds, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-oriented gardens and naturalistic plantings. Its tolerance of moderate drought and ability to thrive in full sun to partial shade positions it well for established landscape settings where long-term shade and structure matter.
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White Basswood develops a naturally attractive ovate-rounded crown and requires minimal pruning. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches as needed during the dormant season. Avoid heavy pruning beyond these maintenance needs, as the tree's natural form is one of its most appealing characteristics.
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“Tilia americana var. heterophylla represents a distinct botanical variety of American basswood, native to a broad swath of eastern North America from Quebec and southeastern Manitoba southward through the Ohio River Valley, Appalachian Mountains, and into the southeastern United States as far as Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Carolina. This variety has been recognized and valued across generations as a reliable forest and landscape tree, representing the natural diversity within the American basswood species that early settlers encountered and eventually cultivated throughout eastern and midwestern regions.”