How many years does linden live?

Our ancestors have always treated lindens with special trepidation. The ancient Slavs considered them holy trees, in Germany, under the shade of their branches, justice was arranged, and in old Europe linden trees were planted on the territory of castles. Now these honey plants are also popular among gardeners. But not many of them know how long such a tree can live.

Today, more than 40 different types of lime trees grow all over the world. The most popular of these are three.

1. Summer (large-leaved)... In height, it grows up to 30 meters. The average age of such a tree is 120 years.
2. Felted... Such trees grow mainly in the southwestern part of Russia or in the East of Europe.
3. Small-leaved (hearty).

They look very similar and bloom around the same time. Such a tree blooms at the end of June. As a rule, this happens after the tree has reached the age of 20–35 years. Flowering lasts about two weeks.

The durability of these trees is their big plus, because, having planted lindens on your site once, you can collect honey from them for several years... Mature linden trees can also be used to harvest buds and bark. They are widely used in medicine as a remedy for abdominal pain, rheumatism, cough, or bronchitis.

When the linden tree reaches 90 years old, it can be used to harvest wood. At this moment, the thickness of the trunk reaches 3–5 meters. Therefore, it can be used to create decorative items or musical instruments. Linden aged 90–95 is ideal for making quality guitars.

On the territory of Russia, there are quite a few interesting types of lindens:

• Siberian;
• six-column;
• Amur;
• Manchu.

All of them grow on average from 60 to 120 years. Under natural conditions, linden is adapted for vegetative reproduction. But most often, either seeds or seedlings are used to grow linden. It is best to plant linden in any way in early autumn.

For the normal growth of linden on the territory of Russia, one must take into account what it needs for this.

1. The tree really needs sunlight. Therefore, do not plant it in the shade. Otherwise, the tree will look more like a small bush.
2. The tree does not need fertile soil and grows well even on sandstone... That is why lindens are so common even in the Far East.
3. If the seedlings are planted on their own, they are best placed at a short distance from each other and from other plants.
4. The tree should be pruned regularlyso that its crown looks well-groomed and does not interfere with other plants.

If the linden grows in good conditions, then nothing will prevent it from living to the age of 100–120 years.

But as a rule, they are cut down much earlier, because linden wood is highly valued. It is used for many buildings that do not require high durability. Previously, bast was made from this pliable material, which was used for bast, mats, bast shoes, etc. Because of this, a huge number of trees were destroyed at a young age.

In addition, the lifespan of a linden tree can be shortened by disease or pest attacks.So, linden can be affected by infectious diseases. To avoid this, you need to check the tools that are used to trim the tree. In addition, the condition of the foliage must be constantly monitored. If signs of illness appear, you need to get rid of the damaged areas and spray the tree with special means.

But despite the fact that this wood has always been quite in demand, luxurious lindens, which are already several hundred years old, can still be found in different parts of the world.

• There is a 500-year-old linden tree in Bashkortostan, which has now been declared a national natural monument. Surprisingly, traces of the vital activity of bees have even been preserved on its trunk.

• Another famous old linden tree grows in a small French town. Maas... This tree is notable for the fact that Joan of Arc drove past it in 1429, going to meet with Charles VII.

• The 800-year-old was named one of the main historical trees of Ukraine. linden tree of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, which grows in the Lviv region.

• You can meet a similar centenarian and in Svetlogorsk... This tree is now about 450 years old. There is a legend that if you go to the lake where it grows, hug a linden tree, press your face against it and count to seven, and then say a wish, it will come true. For greater confidence, it is better to do the procedure away from prying eyes.

• In Gloustenshire, in the arboretum called Westonbirt, you can find not the old linden tree itself, but the stump that remained from the tree. Despite its age, it is well preserved. Some sources indicate that it is more than 4,000 years old.

Summing up, we can say that in general, linden is a long-lived tree. Therefore, it is not surprising that there are so many luxurious old honey trees.