Harvest Gold Linden

Harvest Gold Linden (Tilia cordata x mongolica 'Harvest Gold')

Harvest Gold Linden, Tilia cordata x mongolica 'Harvest Gold', is a hardy, medium sized shade tree valued for its strong central leader, symmetrical form, and outstanding golden yellow fall color. Through the growing season, the tree carries a dense canopy of rich green, heart shaped leaves that cast cool, even shade over lawns, drives, and outdoor gathering spaces. As nights cool, the foliage turns clear golden yellow and holds well on the tree, so it reads as a bright beacon in fall landscapes. With its reliable structure, seasonal color, and adaptability to many sites, Harvest Gold Linden is a smart choice for streetscapes, large yards, and commercial plantings where a clean, upright shade tree is needed.

Distinctive Features

Harvest Gold Linden typically matures to about 35 to 45 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide, forming a broadly pyramidal to oval crown with a strong central trunk and well spaced lateral branches. Medium sized, glossy green leaves provide a full, textured canopy in spring and summer, then turn bright gold in autumn, creating a showy fall display that stands out against nearby evergreens and darker foliage trees. In early summer, small pale yellow flowers appear in loose clusters on drooping stalks, offering nectar for bees and adding a light, honey like fragrance on warm days. The hybrid parentage contributes to good cold hardiness and a durable framework, making this tree a dependable, long term presence in a wide range of landscapes.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Performs best in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light each day for strong growth, a dense canopy, and the best flowering and fall color.
• 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 spells; avoid low spots that remain waterlogged for long periods.
• Hardiness: Well suited to cold and temperate regions where lindens are commonly grown, as long as trees are sited with reasonable soil depth and exposure.
• Size: Typically grows about 35 to 45 feet tall and 20 to 30 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 strong 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.
• Urban and Suburban Yards: Use as a primary shade tree in front or back yards, along property lines, or between buildings where a sturdy, upright tree is needed.
• Avenue and Alle Plantings: Line walks or drives with evenly spaced trees to create a formal corridor of trunks and overhead canopy that glows gold in fall.
• Parks and Campuses: Incorporate into open lawns, play areas, and institutional landscapes where reliable shade and a clean, consistent habit are important.
• Fall Color Highlights: Pair with evergreens and trees that color later in the season to build layered, long lasting autumn interest.

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; avoid heavy fertilization that encourages overly soft growth.
• Mulching: Maintain a wide ring of organic mulch around the base to protect the trunk from lawn equipment, conserve 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 Harvest Gold Linden?

• Showy Golden Fall Color: Bright yellow foliage in autumn provides a strong seasonal highlight and contrasts beautifully with neighboring evergreens.
• Reliable Shade Tree: Dense canopy and generous leaf cover offer cooling shade for homes, sidewalks, and outdoor gathering areas.
• Clean, Upright Habit: Strong central leader and symmetrical crown create a uniform look that suits both formal and informal designs.
• Pollinator Friendly Bloom: Early summer flowers support bees and other pollinators while adding subtle fragrance and visual interest.
• Long Term Landscape Anchor: With proper siting, watering, and basic structural pruning, Harvest Gold Linden provides decades of shade, color, and architectural presence in residential, commercial, and municipal plantings.

With its dependable shade, bright golden fall color, and strong, upright framework, Harvest Gold Linden is an excellent choice for lining streets and driveways, creating formal allees, or adding a long lasting shade tree focal point to urban and suburban landscapes.