Redmond Linden

Redmond Linden (Tilia americana 'Redmond')

Redmond Linden, Tilia americana 'Redmond', is a vigorous American linden selection prized for its strong central leader, broadly pyramidal form, and dense shade canopy on a medium to large tree. Throughout the growing season, large heart shaped green leaves create a full curtain of foliage that cools patios, lawns, and streetscapes, while in early summer, clusters of pale yellow flowers dangle beneath the branches, adding a light honey like fragrance and attracting bees. With its symmetrical outline, reliable growth, and classic shade tree presence, Redmond Linden is a smart choice for wide residential lots, parks, and commercial sites that need a durable, long lived canopy tree.

Distinctive Features

Redmond Linden typically matures to about 40 to 50 feet tall and 25 to 35 feet wide, forming a broadly pyramidal to oval crown with a strong, straight trunk and well spaced lateral branches. The large, medium green leaves give the canopy a bold, textured look and cast deep, even shade beneath the tree. In early summer, clusters of creamy to pale yellow flowers appear on drooping stalks, offering nectar for pollinators and adding subtle seasonal interest after many spring flowering trees have finished. As the season advances, winged nutlets follow the bloom, and in fall the foliage often shifts to soft yellow tones, giving Redmond a gentle but attractive autumn display that reads well against evergreens and darker foliage trees.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Performs best in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light each day for strong growth, a dense crown, and reliable flowering.
• Soil: Prefers deep, moderately fertile, well drained soil but tolerates many average garden and urban soils when drainage is adequate.
• Water: Appreciates consistent moisture, especially while establishing and during hot, dry weather; avoid low spots that remain saturated for long periods.
• Hardiness: Suited to many cold and temperate regions where American linden is commonly grown, provided trees are sited with reasonable soil depth and exposure.
• Size: Typically grows about 40 to 50 feet tall and 25 to 35 feet wide at maturity, depending on climate, soil, and local conditions.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower that steadily builds height and canopy over time, forming a durable framework for long term shade.

Ideal Uses

• Streets and Driveways: Plant in rows along streets, long drives, or parking areas where a uniform canopy and controlled spread provide welcome shade and structure.
• Large Yards and Lawns: Use as a primary shade tree in open lawn areas, along property lines, or near outdoor living spaces where you want broad, dependable shade.
• Parks and Campuses: Incorporate into parks, school grounds, and institutional landscapes where a clean, consistent habit and strong central leader are important.
• Avenue and Allee Plantings: Line walks or drives with evenly spaced Redmond Lindens to create a formal corridor of trunks and overhead canopy.
• Pollinator Friendly Spaces: Include near meadows, mixed borders, or naturalized areas where early summer flowers can support bees and other beneficial insects.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water regularly during the first few seasons to encourage a deep, extensive root system; once established, provide deep soakings during prolonged dry periods.
• Pruning: Prune during the dormant season to maintain a single central leader, remove crossing or damaged limbs, and lift lower branches as needed for clearance over walks, drives, and turf.
• Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a light dose of balanced, slow release fertilizer or a band of compost in the root zone if soil is poor, avoiding heavy applications that encourage overly soft growth.
• Mulching: Maintain a wide ring of organic mulch around the base to protect the trunk from lawn equipment, conserve soil moisture, and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch pulled back from direct contact with the bark.
• Seasonal Care: Monitor for signs of stress such as leaf scorch in drought, adjust watering and care as needed, and check stakes and ties on young trees, removing them once the trunk is strong and self supporting.

Why Choose Redmond Linden?

• Strong Shade Tree Presence: Large leaves and a dense canopy provide generous, comfortable shade for homes, streets, and outdoor gathering areas.
• Clean, Symmetrical Habit: Strong central leader and broadly pyramidal crown create a uniform look that works in both formal and informal designs.
• Seasonal Interest: Pale yellow summer flowers, rich green foliage, and soft yellow fall tones keep the tree attractive from early summer into autumn.
• Urban and Suburban Adaptability: Handles a range of soils and developed sites when given adequate rooting space, moisture, and basic care.
• Long Term Landscape Anchor: With proper siting, watering, and structural pruning, Redmond Linden offers decades of shade, structure, and visual impact in residential, commercial, and municipal plantings.

With its strong central leader, broad shade canopy, and dependable seasonal interest, Redmond Linden is an excellent choice for lining streets and drives, anchoring large lawns, or adding a long lasting shade tree focal point to urban and suburban landscapes.