Latin Name: Tilia americana

Moderate height of 75 feet with a diameter of 2-3 feet, and occasional trees reaching heights of 120-130 feet with diameters of 3-4 feet.

Grows from Florida to Canada, but generally prefers moist woodlands of our northern states into Canada.
Produces yellowish little flowers, intensely fragrant and practically dripping with nectar. Attracts honeybees and for days the air beneath the tree is alive with their humming.

Color: white to pale brown
Properties: tough, close, straight grained, free of knots, and easily worked.
Uses: furniture, woodenware, cooperage, chair seats, interior house trim, paper pulp. Known for its popularity with woodcarvers.

Basswood is an elegant shade tree with large heart-shaped leaves, 4-6 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Also known by other names, Linden, Whitewood, Linn, Lime, or Beetree, Basswood is favored by woodcarvers. Of all North American species, Basswood has the most qualities desired by woodcarvers: easily worked, stable, close-grained, and is of a consistent density. There is little difference between summer growth and winter growth, allowing chisels or gouges to cut smoothly and evenly across the grain.

Basswood is not admired for its beauty; in fact, it is a bland, unappealing tan color with no distinctive grain patterns. However, it is ideal for woodcarvers both in shallow relief and in the round. Since the looks of Basswood are considered dull and plain, finished carvings are usually painted, stained, or gilded. Check out the work of Judy Kensley-Mckie and Tommy Simpson.

Steve Cunliffe