Large-leaved linden: description and cultivation

When creating parks, squares, and decorating garden plots, various ornamental plants are used. Linden trees are a popular option. They will be able to perfectly fit into almost any landscape. For planting in gardens and vegetable gardens, a large-leaved species is most often used. Today we will talk about the features of such lindens and how to properly care for them.

In Latin, the name of the plant will sound like Tilia platyphyllos. The large-leaved linden tree has a uniform, symmetrical, dense crown. Some varieties can grow up to 20 meters in height. This species grows rather quickly: the annual increase in height can be 40-50 centimeters, and in diameter - 30-35 centimeters.

The trunk of this tree is straight with dense branches. His shoots in the winter season are painted in a bright orange or coral color.

Linden is an excellent honey plant. The fruits of the tree are spherical. They have a corrugated soft velvet surface. They ripen in early autumn.

The large-leaved linden tree has a large number of different varieties. Let's highlight the most common varieties.

• "Fastigiata". This variety has a straight, even trunk. The leaves are often oval in shape, they have a rich dark green color, in the autumn period of the year the leaf blades turn yellow. This large-leaved linden is considered the most resilient and hardy. She will be able to endure frosts, sudden changes in temperature. The variety prefers well-lit places, but such trees can grow and develop normally also in partial shade. Fastigiata blooms in June. The large fruits of this vegetation are spherical.

• Rubra. This variety can reach a height of 30-35 meters. The diameter of the leaf plates is about 10 centimeters. They have a slightly rounded shape with a pointed top, the base of the dark green leaves are heart-shaped. The crown of a cubic appearance with beautifully and neatly growing dense branches gives the plant a decorative effect. The flowers of the tree have a bright yellow color, their diameter can reach 1.5 cm. All of them are in inflorescences (4-8 flowers each). Rubra blooms in late spring or early summer. The variety prefers the most loose and nutritious soils. They can grow and develop either in the sun or in partial shade, plants easily tolerate regular pruning and trimming.

• Rathaus. This large-leaved linden tree has a beautiful and unusual columnar crown. Large leaf plates have a rich dark green color. Large and pronounced veins can be seen on their surface. Young leaves are colored pinkish. Rathaus is considered a sun-loving tree, but this variety can grow well in partial shade. The height of an adult tree is 23-25 ​​meters. This linden is moisture and frost resistant.

• "Aurea". The variety has an interesting pyramidal spreading crown. Compared to other varieties, such lindens will have much larger buds, leaves, flowers and fruits. Her flowers are of a beautiful yellow-beige color, they have a pleasant light aroma.Flowering occurs in June or July. Large spherical fruits of the tree grow and develop quite quickly. "Aurea" is a sun-loving variety, while it is resistant to frost and high humidity. The height of an adult variety can exceed 20 meters.

• Orebro. This large-leaved linden tree has a conical crown. It has large, heart-shaped leaves, the diameter of which can be 10-12 centimeters. On their surface, you can see a felt-white pubescence. In autumn they turn golden yellow. During the flowering period, a large number of large fragrant yellow flowers bloom on the linden. They release a significant amount of nectar. This variety is particularly hardy. Its height is 17-20 meters.

• "Celzat". This variety of linden has a fairly dense conical crown, red-brown buds and large dark green rounded leaves. The maximum plant height can be about 20 meters. The root system of the tree is powerful, with a large number of branches. "Celsat" is a light-loving plant, but at the same time it will be able to withstand a little shade. The variety is wind-resistant. It is extremely rarely exposed to the negative effects of pests.

• "Tortuosa". This linden tree is distinguished by the densest wide-pyramidal crown with reddish-brown shoots. Bright leaf blades reach 13-15 centimeters in diameter. The flowers of the plant are painted in a beautiful beige-yellow color, flowering occurs in early or mid-summer. The variety is drought-resistant and frost-resistant. Such ornamental trees can grow both in the sun and in partial shade.

• Laciniata. This variety boasts an openwork decorative pyramidal crown. Unevenly dissected leaf blades grow on the tree. The height of an adult plant is approximately 18-20 meters. Shoots and buds are colored reddish-brown. Yellow-beige linden flowers are collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces. Flowering begins in early summer. "Laciniata" is photophilous, it prefers the most nutritious and moist soils. The tree easily tolerates periodic pruning, frost, high humidity.

It is recommended to plant young seedlings of such a linden in early spring, so the plants will have enough time to adapt to a new place. For this, moist and nutritious soils of almost any type are suitable.

For such lindens, during the growth process, it is even possible to change the soil, while improving its qualitative composition. The broadleaf varieties are tolerant of dry periods, but with prolonged heat, the land around them should be moistened daily.

The most abundant and frequent watering is needed for young seedlings. Irrigation is practically not required for mature trees, because they will already have a fully formed core powerful root system.

Broadleaf lindens respond well to a variety of nutritious baits. In addition, this ornamental vegetation usually tolerates pruning easily. This procedure allows not only to give a more beautiful appearance, but also to remove all old and sore areas.

Broadleaf lindens can reproduce in a variety of ways. Let's consider the most popular options.

• Seeds. This method is the longest. In this case, the seed will first need to be kept cold in a container with well-moistened sand. There he must be placed within six months. In the spring, the seeds can be planted in the ground.

• Layers. To do this, select low-growing branches, they are inclined to a pre-made hole. The material should be in this state for 1 or 2 years.After that, the shoot will be able to take root on its own.

• Saplings. This option is the most common. In this case, you just need to pick up suitable seedlings in a good nursery. In this case, care must be taken that the root system is not severely damaged. They are planted in pre-prepared soil.

Lindens are considered to be quite resistant to various parasites and diseases. But at the same time, some varieties can suffer from thyrostromosis, white marble rot, due to which both the leaves and the trunk are damaged. The latter can crack and bend.

In case of such diseases, trees should be immediately treated with special chemical compounds. Their appearance can be prevented by a special feeding, a disinfectant solution (a mixture of crushed chalk with potassium permanganate).

In such cases, the sheet plates first begin to deteriorate. They may have raids of various colors, small white cobwebs.

Some insects eat up the leaves almost completely. Caterpillar colonies can severely damage the trunk. Butterflies can destroy all buds and flowers on trees.

To get rid of such parasites, it is also worthwhile to immediately thoroughly process the plant with chemical solutions. It is better to use insecticidal formulations. In this case, the processing should be carried out in sunny, calm weather.

Such decorative lindens will harmoniously fit into various landscapes. They are perfect for planting in parks and squares, for decorating walking alleys. In this case, it is better to select the most dense and lush varieties of high heights. In ordinary summer cottages, such trees are rarely planted, since they are large.

Such tall plantations surrounding small paths will look beautiful. Moreover, they must be neatly trimmed and decorated.

See the video about caring for a linden tree.