Tilia cordata Greenspire - Lime

Tilia cordata 'Greenspire', an American selection of small-leaved linden, is a shade tree with moderate development and rapid growth. It is less demanding than the species and better suited to our medium-sized gardens. The other advantages of this variety are a well-regulated, generally pyramidal crown, beautiful crevassed bark, a fragrant and honey-bearing flowering in early summer, and ornamental glossy foliage, which is heart-shaped with a glaucous underside. This linden is also less prone to aphid attacks, which limits its maintenance. It is valued for its accommodating nature: this tree is undemanding regarding soil as long as it remains moist, and it tolerates both sea spray and urban pollution. 

Tilia cordata (synonym Tilia parviflora) belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is native to European forests. It is a deciduous tree with a wide crown, capable of exceeding 30m (98ft) in height. It grows in moist, deep, fertile, acidic to neutral soil. Its longevity is excellent.

The cultivar 'Greenspire', selected in New Jersey (USA) in 1961, distinguishes itself by less significant development, a narrower crown, slightly larger leaves, and its ease of cultivation in less favourable conditions. The growth of this tree is rapid; it will reach maturity with an average height of 16m (52ft) and a spread of 12m (39ft). When young, it has a narrow pyramidal habit, then it widens to form a well-branched ovoid crown on top of a rather short trunk: its branches show rather ascending development. The bark, when mature, is dark brown and channelled, while the young twigs are smooth and green to reddish-brown. Its entire, alternate leaves, 7 to 12cm (3 to 5in) long, are rounded, heart-shaped at the base, and finely toothed at the edges. The lamina is shiny green on the upper side, with a downy glaucous underside adorned with reddish hairs. The leaves turn golden yellow in autumn and fall quite early in the season. The flowering takes place in early summer, in June-July. Numerous small white-yellowish flowers are gathered in pendulous corymbs, in groups of 15 to 20, and attached to the twigs by a long petiole. The flowers are remarkably fragrant and popular with bees. They are followed by small globular grey and smooth fruits attached to a wing called a samara.

'Greenspire' can be planted as a fast-growing standalone shade tree. It is easy to cultivate in many regions. Place it near the entrance of a well-maintained garden, accompanied by evergreen shrubs like the elegant Taxus x media 'Densiformis' or other dwarf conifers. In a more rustic spirit, you can plant it with the Persian Parrotia or x Sycoparrotia, similar but with semi-evergreen foliage, interesting for their autumn colours. Use it for example in a large bed, accompanied by maples (Acer campestre, A. griseum, A. monspessulanum), the Quince tree, Pseudocydonia sinensis, and Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus) to create a vibrant grove from September to November. Its flowers are an important source of nectar, valuable to those who raise bees. A Japanese Medlar, flowering in October-November with a scent of bitter almond, will also have this nourishing role in a scented garden.