Growli
Let's go

Plant care

American Basswood (American Linden) care

Tilia americana

Also called American Basswood, American Linden, Basswood.

RHS H7USDA 3–8Pet-safeIndoor 15–24 m tall (50–80 ft)

Watering rhythm

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Weekly during establishment; less once mature

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Moist, fertile, well-drained loam or clay loam

Humidity

Moderate to high — tolerates typical temperate humidity

Temp

-40°C to 35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

15–24 m tall (50–80 ft)

Care at a glance

Light

In the wild american basswood grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Grows best in full sun (6+ hours direct light) but tolerates part shade. Open-grown specimens develop the broadest crowns. Avoid deep shade, which reduces flowering. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for weekly during establishment; less once mature for american basswood, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Prefers consistently moist soil. Deep water weekly during dry spells in the first 2–3 years. Mature trees have moderate drought tolerance but perform best with adequate moisture during summer heat.

Soil and pot

American Basswood grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained loam or clay loam. Adaptable to sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH (5.5–7.5). Avoid waterlogged sites and road-salt exposure; plant at least 9 m from heavily salted roads. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

American Basswood sits happiest at around Moderate to high — tolerates typical temperate humidity humidity and -40°C to 35°C (-40°F to 95°F). No special humidity management needed. As an outdoor deciduous tree, it is well-adapted to the natural humidity fluctuations of its native temperate range. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed american basswood sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release granular fertiliser (10-10-10) in early spring before bud break. Established trees in fertile soil rarely need feeding; supplement only if growth is poor or foliage appears pale. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on american basswood in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Aphid infestations and honeydew — Linden aphids colonise undersides of leaves in summer, secreting sticky honeydew that causes sooty mould on surfaces below the canopy. Encourage natural predators; treat heavy infestations with insecticidal soap.
  • Japanese beetle defoliation — Beetles skeletonise leaves from late June through August. Hand-pick small colonies; avoid Japanese beetle traps near the tree as they attract more pests than they catch.
  • Verticillium wilt — Soil-borne fungal pathogen causes sudden wilting and dieback of branches. No chemical cure; remove affected limbs, avoid planting near other susceptible trees, and promote vigour with good soil care.

Propagation

Seed: collect ripe nutlets in autumn, stratify in moist sand at 4°C for 90–120 days, then sow at 25–30°C. Germination is often erratic. Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in midsummer with IBA rooting hormone and bottom heat root with moderate success. Grafting onto Tilia americana rootstock is preferred for named cultivars. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

American Basswood is pet-safe. Listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. The genus Tilia has no known toxic principles to companion animals. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

American Basswood care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Tilia americana?

Tilia americana is most commonly called American Basswood, but it is also known as American Basswood, American Linden, Basswood. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for American Basswood apply identically to anything sold as American Linden.

How much light does american basswood need?

American Basswood grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Grows best in full sun (6+ hours direct light) but tolerates part shade. Open-grown specimens develop the broadest crowns. Avoid deep shade, which reduces flowering.

How often should I water american basswood?

Water american basswood weekly during establishment; less once mature. Prefers consistently moist soil. Deep water weekly during dry spells in the first 2–3 years. Mature trees have moderate drought tolerance but perform best with adequate moisture during summer heat. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is american basswood toxic to cats and dogs?

American Basswood is pet-safe. Listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses by the ASPCA. The genus Tilia has no known toxic principles to companion animals.

What USDA hardiness zone does american basswood grow in?

American Basswood is rated for USDA zone 3–8 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

American Basswood deep-dive guides

Every aspect of american basswood care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

American Basswood qualifies for 11 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

American Basswood is also known as American Basswood, American Linden, and Basswood.