Tilia mexicana (Mexican Basswood)
Botanical Information
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Genus | Tilia |
| Species | mexicana |
| Synonyms | Tilia americana var. mexicana, Tilia caroliniana |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (deciduous) |
| Origin | Native to the southern and south-eastern states of the United States of America and Mexico. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | The young leaves are edible, and can be made into a mild-flavored tea. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -15 |
| Height | Up to 30 m |
| Spread | 15 m |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | June |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A large, fast growing weak-wooded tree, usually multi-stem and of little ornamental value although the wood has been used in school shop classes since it is cheap and easy to work with. |
| Shape | Broadly pyramidal. |
| Landscape | Limited landscape use except for naturalisation. |
| Notable Specimens | National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom. |
| Leaf Description | Large, very unequal at the base, 7 – 19 cm long and 6 – 14 cm broad, with a finely toothed margin, light green and smooth above, and silvery downy beneath. |
| Flower Description | Yellow with prominat anthers, hanging in clusters of 10–24 together. |
| Fruit Description | Spherical, 13 mm diameter, downy, with the fruit bract pointed at the base. |
| Texture Description | Coarse textured tree. |
Photographs
Tilia mexicana, form, form, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Tilia mexicana, form, leaf, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Tilia exicana, form, leaf bud, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Tilia mexicana, bark, form, National Trust Trelissick Garden, Feock, near Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.