The lime tree is one of our most popular avenue and courtyard trees. It has an important cultural and historical significance, of which some of its practical features are certainly not entirely innocent. Here is an overview of the folk home tree.
What are the characteristics of the linden tree?
The linden tree (Tilia) is a deciduous tree with a moderate height of 15 to 40 meters, heart-shaped leaves and a long life expectancy of up to 500 years. The versatile flowers are a valuable pasture for bees and can be used as a tea to provide relief from colds.
The cultural and historical significance of the lime tree
At the fountain in front of the gate, there is a linden tree. This old folk song has created a prominent monument to the linden tree. And that is all too legitimate given their important cultural-historical role. In many village communities in Central Europe, a linden tree traditionally formed the center where people met, enjoyed fellowship and formed relationships.
Their cultural relevance is no coincidence - because the deciduous tree has a number of characteristics and special features that make it ideally suited to various human concerns. These are:
- moderate height
- flat, heart-shaped leaves
- old age
- multi-purpose flowers
The benefits of lime tree characteristics
The height and growth
Depending on the type - there are around 40 in total - linden trees grow to around 15 to 40 meters high. The smaller species in particular are therefore particularly suitable for planting in civilization, i.e. on roadsides, in village squares or in larger gardens. They develop an extremely harmonious growth habit with a sprawling, often very even crown over a straight trunk. This growth also makes it a pleasant source of shade.
leaves
The leaves of the linden tree are known for their distinctive heart shape. Depending on the variety, the leaf is sometimes larger, sometimes a little smaller - the species of large-leaved summer linden and small-leaved winter linden are particularly relevant in this regard. The broad leaf shape and the light leaf color are also partly responsible for the incomparably light, pleasant lime shade.
Old age
Linds can get very old and therefore have a certain nostalgic character. Individual specimens can live up to 500 years.
The flowers
The flowers are also one of the most important special features of the linden tree, because they have some very advantageous characteristics: On the one hand, they exude a wonderfully sweet, honey-like scent in midsummer and are a valuable pasture for bees. Linden blossom honey is therefore one of the best-known beekeeping speci alties. The flowers can also be used to brew a tasty and soothing tea, which can provide significant relief, especially for colds.
One of the more unpleasant features of the linden blossom is the so-called honeydew - a sticky secretion that it secretes and can cause annoying coatings on cars, bicycles or garbage cans.
Other vegetative features
Site conditions
Linde trees are particularly demanding on light in their location - they thrive best in full sun. They like the soil to be permeable and pH-neutral.
Fruits
The fragrant flowers produce small, spherical fruits with a single bract. This carries the ripe fruit further away when it falls so that the linden tree can achieve a wider sowing range.
Species
Some of the 15 to 40 types of linden trees are native to us, others also come from subtropical areas. The most important types are:
- Summer linden tree
- Winterlinde
- Silver lime tree
- Krimlinde
