American Sentry Linden

What a wonderful shade tree! The hardy American Sentry Linden (Tilia americana 'McKSentry') is a landscapers' favorite, and just loaded with ornamental features. This is a stately American treasure that will surely become a valuable asset in your yard, especially during those hot summer months.

Everyone knows that Linden trees are magnets for Japanese Beetles where populations are high. However, we are hearing that American Sentry Linden has shown some nice resistance to Japanese Beetles. This is great news for your landscape!

It grows to just about the perfect size, substantial enough for a large landscape, but not too big for a smaller yard. You'll love the large, heart-shaped leaves that cast dense, delicious shade.

The American Linden, also called the Basswood tree, starts out pyramidal in shape but becomes rounded at maturity. The American Sentry variety presents a pleasing, symmetrical profile through a very uniform branch structure. This gives the tree a strong foundation for its heart-shaped green leaves.

The leaves are textured with serrated edges. With a dark green top and lighter tones underneath, they'll bring a lovely sense of movement as they move in the breeze.

In spring, clusters of sweetly fragrant pale yellow flowers grace its branches. Fragrant cymes of yellow-hued blossoms dangle from the grey/brown branches and act as an attractive lure to pollinators.

As summer progresses, you'll enjoy watching woody, pea-sized seeds form. They add a tremendous amount of visual interest. Their light green shade provides a slight variation in color throughout your tree for the late summer.

The flowers give way to small nutlets attached to 5-inch "wings" in late summer. When autumn appears, Linden's leaves will take a dramatic step as green leaves transform to brilliant yellow.

The American Linden tree is an excellent choice for almost any yard and would certainly be a strong and useful sentinel next to your house for years to come. Order today!

How to Use American Sentry Linden in the Landscape

A tremendously valuable tree for its many usages, the American Linden has been an American landscape favorite for hundreds of years. One would look terrific in your front or side yard.

If you have a large property and are looking for cash crops, Linden is a great addition for homesteaders.

The wood is also valued for its light, yet strong nature and is suitable for a wide variety of uses. Every part of the Linden has had importance from the inner bark being used to make rope and mats to the fine heartwood that is used to make everything from shipping crates and veneer, to fine furniture.

Parts of the tree have medicinal uses and can be easily harvested to produce holistic products for sale. They can be processed into a number of different holistic medicines to treat everything from coughs and colds to high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Tea is produced from the leaves.

The most notable use of the American Linden is in the production of a fine brown honey. Some consider the honey from Linden flowers to be some of the best available.

Try setting up beehives and processing Linden/Basswood honey. With dark color and delectable flavor, it will be a huge hit at local farmer's markets and online.

The European Lindens, such as the Tilia cordata, have been used for centuries to make some of the finest honeys in the world. The American Basswood produces the same fine quality honey as its European relatives.

#ProPlantTips for Care

This popular specimen or shade tree is native throughout the southeastern portions of Canada and from eastern North Dakota south to Oklahoma and east through the Ohio river valley to Tennessee and North Carolina. It's widely adaptable to many types of soils and climates.

It thrives in a rural environment and is tolerant of periods of wet and dry. However, it has been generally considered intolerant of inner-city environment where it appears sensitive to pollution. In urban conditions, one of the European varieties of Tilia such as Tilia cordata or Little Leaf Linden is recommended.

American Sentry Linden doesn't mind a bit of drought and can adapt to a variety of soils and conditions. The tree requires good drainage but can tolerate both wet and dry locations if the drainage is good. This tree is not affected by higher pH soils as many other varieties of shade tree are.

If you're considering a shade tree, why choose something that only provides shade? Choose an American Linden, a tree that provides shade, stately beauty, and so much more. Order today!