Tilia cordata 'Olympic'
Olympic Littleleaf Linden

Family:

Malvaceae (Mallow Family) 16

Genus:

Tilia (Linden Basswood Lime) 11

Plant Type:

Tree 583

Growth Forms:

Upright 600

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 256

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 871

Flower Notes:

Yellow (Flowers are fragrant, but inconspicuous; appear on cymes in summer; flower bract is of visual interest; attract bees)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Handsome deep green summer foliage); Brown (Poor brown fall foliage, sometimes can achieve an attractive soft yellow)

Fruit Notes:

Gray (Nutlet with bract)

Ultimate Height:

40 feet

Ultimate Spread:

30 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile, and alkaline soils, but is widely adaptable

Range:

Cultivated origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

The heart-shaped leaves are alternate, simple, 1.5-3" long, finely serrated, and cordate at base. The 1.5-3.5" long, pale greenish-yellow bracts have 5 to 6 nutlets each.

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Linden, Basswood

Special Characteristics:

Fragrant Flowers 196

Pollution Tolerant 217

Shade Tree 181

Street Tree 140

Additional Information

'Olympic' is a vigorous cultivar that has a symmetrical canopy and excellent branching. Never colorful but a good shade tree that is well-adapted to most city conditions and relatively troublefree. Functions as a small tree for many years. Japanese beetles can feed heavily on foliage beginning in mid-summer.