In last week’s “Gardening Corner,” I wrote about a weeping Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) that is struggling, most likely because it is too closely located to several other trees that block its access to sunlight. Two of the guilty trees are littleleaf lindens (Tilia cordata), members of the Malvaceae or mallow family and native to Europe and southwestern Asia. Littleleaf lindens also are called small-leaved lindens. In Britain, they are known as lime trees, although they aren’t related to the citrus tree and fruit that bear the same name. Several other species of linden exist.
Three littleleaf lindens were planted on our property by the previous owners more than 30 years ago. They have a good chance to live several hundred years if they escape severe disease, insect infestation, or environmental changes. In fact, longevity may be one of the reasons lindens were planted along streets and avenues in European, and later, American cities. Lindens also make reliable city trees...