Tilia americana McKSentry – American Sentry® Linden

Botanical Name: Tilia americana McKSentry

The American Sentry Linden (Tilia americana McKSentry) is a useful tree to plant in smaller landscapes due to its narrow and predictable growth habit. This tree also works well as a street tree or planted in city median strips, as it has a high canopy clearance of 7 feet. It is a small to medium sized deciduous tree with a pyramidal shaped canopy and upright, dense, and uniform branching. It is native to the midwest and grows to a height of 40-45 feet with a spread of 25-30 feet.

The leaves of this tree are large – 4-8 inches long. They are an attractive heart shape and a dark shade of green with lighter undersides and coarsely serrated margins. In the fall, the foliage turns a spectacular pale golden yellow. The distinctive silvery gray bark is an attractive feature, particularly on juvenile trees.

The American Sentry Linden produces clusters of yellow, spicy scented blooms in the summer. The fruits are inconspicuous.

No serious disease or insect problems. This tree has some resistance to the Japanese beetle, which can decimate many plants. Tolerates pollution. Attractive to butterflies.