Linden Tree History

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. The genus Tilia, with the common name basswood, lime, or linden is found across the Northern hemisphere with the most species diversity in Asia. In Europe there are examples of extremely old specimens, The Najevnik linden tree in Slovenia,   700 years old with a trunk diameter of 35 feet, is the site of an annual gathering to celebrate democracy. It also has an association with Carl Linnaeus, founder of the binomial system of nomenclature. When Linneaus’s father, who was named in the Scandinavians tradition of son being added to his father first name, resulting in Nils Ingemarsson, went to study for the clergy, he needed a surname and took the name Linnaeus after that venerable and large Linden tree that grew on their farm. When other relatives needed a family name, they chose Lindelius and Tiliander after the same tree.