- An impeccable tree that provides plenty of shade and windbreaks, with roots suitable for street side
- An American Basswood would be a great choice for an addition to Toronto's Canopy
- This tree provides plenty of shade due to the fullness of the leaves and crown
- They may also be used as windbreaks, shade trees or as a featured species in the yard
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute rates basswood as a suitable street side tree
Quality of Life
Soil and Sun
- As long as the tree is kept healthy, few insects or diseases are likely to cause lasting damage
- Basswood trees are not fussy or high-maintenance and tend to live about 150 years
- Hardiness: zones 3 through 8
Soil and Sun
- Basswood grows best on moderate moisture of soil, but is also found on coarse soils such as the sand dunes and on dry, exposed rock ridges in Ontario
- American Basswood grows well in loamy, sandy or clay soils.
- The tree isn't picky about soil acidity and is happy in anything from highly acidic to highly alkaline soils
- Basswood trees thrive in full sun to partial shade
Size
Physical Appearance
- Height can reach an average of 23-40 metres
- The trunk of the American Basswood can exceed 2.5 m circumference at maturity
- This tree is fast growing, 60 cm per year is the average growth rate
Physical Appearance
- The fragrant, yellow-white, perfect flowers are borne on loose flower clusters on long stalks attached to leafy bracts
- Basswood leaves are coarsely serrated with pointed teeth and are often heart-shaped
- Leaves are up to 6 inches long and wide, leathery and may have tiny tufts of “hair” along the veins
- The foliage is green on the upper surface and a paler shade below
- In the fall, the basswood leaves turn light yellow to dark gold or tan before falling from the tree
Size
Physical Appearance
- Height can reach an average of 23-40 metres
- The trunk of the American Basswood can exceed 2.5 m circumference at maturity
- This tree is fast growing, 60 cm per year is the average growth rate
Physical Appearance
- The fragrant, yellow-white, perfect flowers are borne on loose flower clusters on long stalks attached to leafy bracts
- Basswood leaves are coarsely serrated with pointed teeth and are often heart-shaped
- Leaves are up to 6 inches long and wide, leathery and may have tiny tufts of “hair” along the veins
- The foliage is green on the upper surface and a paler shade below
- In the fall, the basswood leaves turn light yellow to dark gold or tan before falling from the tree
Sequestration (based on a 15cm diameter tree)
Scientific name: Tilia americana
- 174kg of CO2 absorbed to grow
- 9.7kg of CO2 absorbed per year
- High CO2 sequestering tree
Scientific name: Tilia americana
Victoria Lindsey
References
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tilia/americana.htm
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/basswood-trees-76551.html
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/basswood.html
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=88
References
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/tilia/americana.htm
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/basswood-trees-76551.html
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/trees/basswood.html
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=88