White Basswood, American basswood
Tilia heterophylla
Family: Tiliaceae
What it is like
Tilia heterophylla is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft 5in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 30
Where it is found
Buffs and slopes of ravines and by streams. Found in rich woods in the Appalachians.
Eastern N. America - New York to Florida.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Young leaves - raw. A nice mild flavour with a slightly mucilaginous texture. They go well in a mixed salad, though I have found that on their own they tend to leave a slightly rough feeling in the throat. The dried flowers make a refreshing tea substitute. A very good chocolate substitute is made from a paste of the ground fruits and flowers. Trials on marketing the product failed because the paste decomposes readily.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 2
A tea made from the flowers is antispasmodic, diaphoretic and sedative. A decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of dysentery. A decoction of the bark, mixed with cornmeal, has been used as a poultice in the treatment of boils. A decoction of the inner bark and twigs has been used during pregnancy to treat heartburn, weak stomach and weak bowels.
Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.
Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.
Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
Sedative: Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
Other
Rating: 3
A fibre is obtained from the tough inner bark It can be made into diverse items such as rope, mats, shoes and coarse cloth. Wood - soft, light, weak, straight grained. It weighs 26lb per cubic foot. Widely used in interior finishing, cabinet making, woodenware, paper making and for piano keyboards.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Prefers a good moist loamy alkaline to neutral soil but succeeds on slightly acid soils. Grows poorly on any very dry or very wet soil. Dislikes exposed positions. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade. A moderately fast growing and long-lived species in the wild. It prefers a continental climate, growing more slowly and not producing fertile seed in areas with cool summers. It is fairly susceptible to forest fires because it has a thin bark. Lime trees tend to hybridise freely if other members of the genus are growing nearby. If growing plants from seed it is important to ensure the seed came from a wild source or from an isolated clump of the single species. Grows best in a woodland situation, young plants tolerate a reasonable level of side shade. Trees are usually attacked by aphids which cover the ground and the leaves with a sticky honeydew. Closely related to T. americana. Quite tolerant of root disturbance, semi-mature trees up to 5 metres tall have been transplanted successfully. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagating it: Seed - much of the seed produced in Britain is not viable, cut a few seedcases open to see if there is a seed inside. If possible, obtain fresh seed that is ripe but has not as yet developed a hard seed coat and sow it immediately in a cold frame. It may germinate in the following spring though it could take 18 months. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate. It has a hard seed coat, embryo dormancy and a hard coat on the pericarp. All these factors mean that the seed may take up to 8 years to germinate. One way of shortening this time is to stratify the seed for 5 months at high temperatures (10°c at night, up to 30°c by day) and then 5 months cold stratification. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Layering in spring just before the leaves unfurl. Takes 1 - 3 years. Suckers, when formed, can be removed with as much root as possible during the dormant season and replanted immediately.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Canopy;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Synonyms
T. americana heterophylla. (Vent.)Loud.