| Issue #35, November 24, 2006 |
The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine
The Odiferous Linden
Our world would certainly be less stimulating without the fragrance
of plants. Almost nothing compares with the experience of walking through
a garden and being hit by the sweet scents of flowers and trees. What
a loss it would be if the Magnolia, with its lemony-vanilla fragrance
that carries people to a virtual nirvana, did not exist. Another tree
of this sort, though lesser known, is the Linden. A single tree, growing
upwind, produces the most magnificent perfumes in late June and early
July. Every garden should have at least one!
Linden trees, sometimes referred to as Basswood or Lime trees, are part of a genus of plants named Tilia. There are a number of different species, originating from either America or Europe. All are deciduous and produce dark-green leaves of various sizes and clusters of inconspicuous, very fragrant flowers. These trees have been around for a very long time. There are references to Linden trees in Greek and Roman writings – the tree spirits of Greek mythology were believed to be wedded in Linden trees, and the Romans identified the tree with conjugal love and fidelity because of its clean, fresh fragrance.
There are distinct differences in each species within the genus, though all species are winter hardy to about Zone Four. Tilia Americana is a large shade tree with a rounded crown – Tilia Cordata is the European Linden, producing smaller, densely arranged leaves – Tilia Japonica originates from Japan, and produces leaves with a silvery underside – Tilia Tomentosa is a very large, Eastern European and Asian variety with a whitish, powdery coating on the underside of its leaves. All varieties are widely cultivated as ornamental trees because of their naturally manicured shapes and fragrant flowers.
Among those available in the States, several varieties are recommended. The choice of which to use depends on the tree’s size. Greenspire (Tilia Cordata) is one of the most popular, because of its vigorous growth – it can attain heights of up to 50 feet and grow to 35 feet wide. It is also popular due to its uniform branching, dark green leaves, and exceptional tolerance for difficult conditions. Greenspire develops a narrow, oval crown with a straight trunk. Green Globe is a dwarf tree that has a “lollipop on a stick” appearance, with a tight crown and compact foliage, that grows to 15 feet tall. Redmond is a vigorous tree with a pyramidal growth habit and branches that turn red at the onset of cold weather in autumn that will grow 50 feet tall. Chancole works well as a street tree, because of its upright habit, and also grows to 50 feet. Corzam provides a uniform pyramidal shape in a compact tree that reaches 45 feet tall. Corzam’s glossy, dark green leaves create a pyramid of green all summer.
In late June and early July, a Linden tree has a powerful, haunting fragrance that can be detected for up to a mile away. Its fragrant flowers hang from the middle of leafy, ribbon-like green bracts in long-stalked clusters. The flowers are tiny, with five yellowish-white petals, and possess nectar that attracts bees – which means that bees will be attracted to your yard from far away (the only downside of the Linden). During the two or three weeks during which these trees bloom, bees will forsake most other flowers to forage on the Linden. The flowers, when gathered and dried, can be used to make tea, and are a frequent ingredient in retail perfumes.
Linden wood is soft and creamy, and it is much favored by woodcarvers because of its workability (it is said to “cut like cheese”). In past centuries, it was used to make ships’ figureheads and cigar-store Indians. Today, it is used for broom handles, beehive frames, piano sounding boards, and parts of guitars.
The Linden’s inner bark is fibrous and can be twisted and woven into cords, ropes and matting. Native Americans of the Northeastern tribes used it to make bags to carry food. Rope was made from it by “retting” (keeping the bark under water for about a month, until the soft tissues rotted away, leaving the fibrous tissue). Thread made of Basswood bark was used to stitch together mats made of cattail leaves and to bind up warriors’ wounds. The Iroquois carved masks from the sapwood on the living tree, then split it off from the trunk and hollowed it out from behind.
The Linden prefers the moist soils of valleys and uplands, where it typically grows, in hardwood forests. However, the tree is quite versatile and tolerant of both rich and poor soils and grows well in full sun, to partly sunny locations, in the landscape.
You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.
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