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AMERICAN BASSWOOD (Tilia americana)
Other names: basswood, linden

VERY GOOD

The American basswood or linden tree grows throughout the Great Lakes region, Minnesota to Maine. The tree prefers sandy glacial soil. Basswood is rapid growing, reaches as much as 3 ft. in diameter and up to 140 years of age. The tree is highly prized for lumber and is used as shade trees on city streets. The tree blooms in spring with white blossoms which bees turn into the most delicious honey. The Indians used the tough and stringy inner-bark to make rope. This tree sprouts profusely. Every old stump has a clump of new basswood trees which sprouted from it, forming a natural perpetuation of a trees' location. Young trees have a smooth green bark. Mature trees are protected by a rough and fibrous bark. 

The original surveyors often bark scribed the young basswood. As the tree grew the bark scribing disappeared in the rough bark and would be very hard to detect. Dead and fallen trees decay quickly but the sprout clumps of new trees show where the original tree stood in most cases. 

Select young and vigorous trees and release from a dense stand. Bark scribe through the bark. Avoid blazing but if necessary keep the blaze small, narrow and smooth at all edges. Paint thoroughly, whether bark or meat scribed..