Tilia x europaea
Common name: European linden  Why are 'modestly showy' flowers the first thing I think to mention? Because these blossoms emit one of the sweetest, most powerful fragrances in the commonly available plant kingdom. It is a fragrance at once ethereal, yet strong enough to waft long distances. It is a scent that is nothing short of heavenly. Indeed, when it floats through an open window from a tree 75 yards away, as it does from a grand specimen towering over the surrounding 7-story Hausmannian buildings in our neighborhood, it really seems a celestial scent, so purely sweet as to come from the serene blue summer sky itself. It's a fragrance that makes you smile, bless the day, and be happy to be alive. The scent of linden blossom is also for me the very essence of a summer day in a Provence. Most ancient villages in the south of France harbor plenty of linden trees, which are treasured for their cool shade as well for their delicious fragrance. For me, the scent of linden on the air immediately transports me to a hot afternoon in a village of ancient stones, silent with everyone indoors during the apogee of the sun's trajectory. Linden exhales its perfume most powerfully in the heat of the sun. Most of the linden trees in southern France are of the species T. platyphyllos (bigleaf linden), which, as one of the parents of European linden, differs from it only slightly. Bigleaf linden is just as hardy as European linden.  Not only are linden blossoms fragrant, but they make one of the most delicious of tisanes, or "herbal" teas. In fact, linden tea is probably the most appreciated herbal infusion in France and the rest of Europe. Heaps of dried linden flowers are everpresent in Provençal markets. But rather than buy some on our upcoming trip to Provence, I decided to harvest the blossoms from our own linden tree in Normandie. It's easy to do, given that you have branches on your tree that are within reaching distance without a ladder. (To this end, refrain from 'limbing up' your linden tree if you plant or have one.) Using some sharp-nosed pruners, simply clip the individual flower clusters, including the curious wing-shaped bract that precedes them on the petiole. Air dry in a shady, well-ventilated place and store airtight. Linden flowers are also an excellent honeybee forage plant, and linden honey--much appreciated in France--is extremely perfumed with a distinctive tart undertone.  Our linden tree is about 35 or 40 feet high at 12 years of age. At maturity, European lindens are among the most majestic of shade trees, with broadly oval crowns thickly cloaked with deep green, heart-shaped leaves. On our tree, I have never had any insect or disease infestations, although I've read that sometimes aphids can attack. Linden needs full sun and is very drought-tolerant. Although American linden or basswood (T. americana) is fairly widely planted as a street tree in the U.S., the scent of its flowers--while pleasant--is unfortunately not nearly as strong. And for me, as you can no doubt tell, the perfume is the raison d'être of this fine shade tree. Products of Interest: Enjoy some other plants in profile: |
 |
Having a collector's mentality in my plant passion, I've had to learn how to make the best garden choices for myself and others. Here are my very favorite plants--some old, some new--but all plants that earn their place in any garden. Included are the latest and greatest plant introductions from France and the rest of Europe eminently suitable for New World gardens.
|
|
