Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
The nectar-rich early summer flowers are heavily visited by bees, which make linden honey, plus butterflies and hummingbirds.
Ships bare root
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
tree
Littleleaf Linden
Tilia cordata
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 3–7
- Grows 50–60 ft
$11.95Was $12.95Save 7%
4.0 out of 5 · 2 reviewsThe quick answer
Littleleaf linden is a dense, formal shade tree for USDA zones 3-7 that grows 50-60 ft tall and 35-50 ft wide in full sun to part shade. Buy it for a neat, pyramidal canopy, heavy shade and fragrant June flowers that bees love. Japanese beetles are its main weakness.
Size
height when shippedWhen it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Littleleaf Linden plant profile
Mature size50–60 ft tall · 35–50 ft wide
Typical (50 ft)Up to 60 ft
Dense, pyramidal when young, becoming oval to rounded with age.
USDA hardiness zones3–7
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Grows in full sun to partial shade.
SoilpH 6.0–8.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers well-drained loam and does not tolerate wet soil.
Yellow-green to yellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
Very fragrant creamy yellow flowers hang from leafy bracts in June to early July, followed by small round nutlets.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow-green to yellow in fall. Small, heart-shaped dark green leaves turn yellow-green to yellow in fall; color is not showy.
Pests & disease
Japanese beetles are the most serious pest; aphids (with sticky honeydew), spider mites, leaf spots and canker also occur.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove dead or crossing branches and suckers from the base.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Littleleaf Linden
SPRINGSmall heart-shaped leaves fill in a dense crown
SUMMERFragrant creamy yellow flowers in June to early July, buzzing with bees
LATE SUMMERSmall round nutlets hang from leafy bracts; watch for Japanese beetles
FALLLeaves turn yellow-green to yellow
Questions people ask about Littleleaf Linden
How big does a littleleaf linden get?
Typically 50-60 ft tall and 35-50 ft wide with a dense, pyramidal to oval crown.
When does linden bloom?
Small, very fragrant creamy yellow flowers open in June to early July and attract large numbers of bees.
Do Japanese beetles damage linden trees?
Yes. Japanese beetles can skeletonize the leaves, and heavy infestations have killed mature trees.
Is littleleaf linden native?
No. It is native to Europe; American basswood (Tilia americana) is the native linden.
What soil does a linden tree need?
Well-drained loam with neutral to alkaline pH; it does not tolerate wet soil.
What size is the linden when it ships?
It ships as a dormant bare-root tree with no leaves, in the size you select (18-24 in or 2-3 ft).
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 2 reviews
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R
Tree looks healthy and I followed instructions on planting so now I have to wait and see how it grows.
R
Wish it was a little taller but looks healthy. I followed instructions exactly for care an planting. Now I just have to wait and see if it grows.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, UConn.