More names for this tree
Anishinaabemowin: Wiigob
The Dakota and Anishinaabe were among the earliest people to name Minnesota’s plants and animals, as well as to understand them in relation to Minnesota’s climate and seasons. Those original names are still in use, and several are included on the Season Watch website.
Latin (or scientific name): Tilia americana
The scientific community has a convention of assigning agreed-upon Latin names to every kind of organism. Using scientific names helps people communicate confidently about the same organism and organize lifeforms based on how closely related they are.
More common names: Linden or linden tree
Page contents
October 12, 2020, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Photo © willowpillow, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
iNaturalist observation
About the American basswood
- The American basswood is a deciduous tree that can grow sixty to eighty feet tall.
- Its leaves are asymmetric and heart-shaped with sharp, pointed tips and saw toothed edges.
- Fragrant flowers appear in June and July. Bees use them to make honey.
- The basswood's fruit is round and hangs in clusters from the tree, often remaining long into the winter. (Identification tip: Learn what basswood fruit looks like to identify leafless trees.)
- In fall, leaves turn yellow or sometimes orange before falling to the ground.
Visual guide to phenology
Watch for the appearance of leaves, flowers, and fruits. Take notice of when flowers open and fruits ripen.
Note to observers
This page explains general clues to watch for when observing American basswood phenology. However, this page does not instruct observers on how to identify this plant or collect data in a standardized way.
- For help with identification, see Minnesota Wildflowers.
- For guidance on collecting data, see Nature’s Notebook.
Graphs and historical data
Note: The Orientation Center provides a map, as well as information on reading graphs; interpreting summary statistics, who collected the data and how; and how to download datasets for independent exploration.
Flowering:
- Earliest: July 1 and 2 (occurred in 2004 and 2007)
- Average: July 10
- Latest: July 23 (occurred in 2008)
Keep exploring Season Watch
Keep exploring Season Watch
Co-author: Jayme Hogan, Minnesota Master Naturalist