Fragrant flowering tree in No. CO - Help ID Please

Marj

Hello Tree-Buds!

I have the most amazing trees surrounding my townhouse rental property and I have seen/smelled them all over Fort Collins, Colorado also! I don't ever want to be without one of these trees.

My sister-in-law from Arkansas had never seen one, she knows everything about plants and trees (nearly)!

A friend said it is a Night Blooming Jasmine Tree but when I "Googled" it - no such tree came up!

The scent is a spicy floral - very sexy and not too sweet. The tree is georgous and does seem to be more fragrant at night and in the early morning. They grow very tall and some are very round as well but that could be due to how they are trimmed. Broad leaf and small long pointy petals on the flowers with lots of stamens.

I have plenty of photos - please, help me identify this tree. And if you have never smelled one - go find it!



Marj

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cte539

Looks like a Linden species
Tilia sp.
Paul

Chimera

Definitely a Linden. Also called Basswood. Its nectar makes some of the best honey. But don't worry about having to find some rare/exotic species, Linden are some of the most common trees in the US!

Brent Ferris

Definitely a Linden. Lindens are introduced species, Basswoods are native -- Lindens are generally shorter 60-80 ft,and more pollution tolerant; Basswoods up to 120 ft. Basswoods will tolerate more cold Zone 2 to 8; many of the Lindens, less cold and heat Zone 4 -7.
No need to worry whether or not you can have one in Colorado - very common tree.

Bowani Siam

What a beautiful tree! Don't think I have ever seen one in the ground here in Ol' Sydney Town...

Jamie Myers

Looks like Tillia cordata

sueann

I thought it was lovely as well VS but I've been all over the net and can't find one to buy.

Do we have them here? I've never seen one.

jmcg.insight.gardens

Sueann,

They are more a cool climate tree, but you used to be able to get them from Quindalup Specialist Nursery, Bowral, whom do mail order I believe. Try them.

Julie

sueann

Thanks Julie, they don't seem to have an actual website, they're just seemed to be mentioned on a few tourist type sites, but I did find a ph. number so I'll ring them tomorrow and see what they say.

It may not be cold enough for them here in the Hunter? it's a really nice tree.

jmcg.insight.gardens

They are a temperate tree, but from all discussions I've had they do not like humidity, and do best down the south coast and cooler regions. I am not familiar with them myself, they are not commonly planted this area, so I've looked it up for you, Flemings grow them so they can be ordered by any of your local nurseries that stock Flemings trees, they will be able to order one for you, all you need to do is ring around your local nurseries to find whom stocks Flemings trees (most do).

Now the main factor that they require is reliably moist soil, they do not like drought, although Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' is reported to be drought tolerant by southern council websites, so if you can find a spot that keeps moist, perhaps near your creek where the soil stays moister through summer, or potential droughts, you might be able to grow a good specimen. Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' is recommended by the Gardening Sustainably website, you can also read up on them on the Flemings website; you might have to provide irrigation for it if you cannot provide an adequately moist site, as they then suffer heat scorch to the leaves in prolonged dry times. They have invasive roots so take this into consideration when you plant. They are not listed as a weed problem here in Australia. Best of luck, they are a nice tree..................

regards Julie

Fleming's Nurseries - Top 10 Cultivar Details

Attached Files

Tilia_cordata_æGreenspireÆ.pdf (28.7 KB, 18 views)

sueann

Thanks heaps for that Julie, there's heaps of nurseries around here I can check out, + bunnings which is not that far from me. I'll try bunnings first, but not when John is around as I can never get him out of that place!!

Brent Ferris

I guess your droughty soils are drier than ours, Julie. In toronto, a city of high humidity winter and summer, the linden is liked because of its tolerance of pollution, dry soils and variable soil types. While it would probably do ok in moist soil, fresh usually does better. Of course, a bad drought for us is only 2-3 months, 1 month is more common.

jmcg.insight.gardens

Our last drought lasted ten years, treeshaveneeds, it was terrible, the soil became so hydrophobic that it started to crack apart in areas, I had never seen the soil so dry, it took some time for it to start to absorb water normally, many Horticultural tradespeople, plant nurseries went out of business as a result, in the last two years of it it was very depressing, some children here had never seen rain. Droughts here for two years I have known a few times, one year as well.

There is reason to assume that the region where Sueann lives might experience similar conditions in the life span of the Linden if she plants one, I know the area well, it is not far from where I live, it was very dry there with this last drought. I like trees to reach their full potential, any plant for that matter. Where I lived, the last part of the water restrictions allowed no water outside, at all, people were trying to keep their gardens alive with greywater, as result I feel they can write the books all over again as regards what plants are drought tolerant. Whatever survived the conditions over the last ten years of drought without subsidiary water are drought tolerant. No matter what the books say. The Hunter region where Sueann lives, had no such restrictions I believe. One township, Goulburn had massive water shortages, their water supply ran dry.

I'm not familiar with Lindens, they are not planted around here, in fact in all my years looking at gardens, here and overseas, I've never seen one, so I based my reply on Government based web-sites, books and advice to my inquiries in the past by teachers of mine at college. It seems they burn at the leaf margins much like some maples do here if they become too dry, with our heat and humidity. I respect my teachers at college, they are all well versed people. I note that in Encyclopedia Botanica (Frances Bodkin, 1986) mention the species Tilia cordata as drought tender, which prefers cool deep moist soils in an open position, so it is interesting to see them regarded now as drought tolerant, perhaps the new cultivars are better able to cope with dry soil. But another bad drought might mean forward planning is prudent as to where the best location to plant the Linden is for Sueann, so that her new tree becomes what it should.

It would be nice to only have two months drought, we do not consider that a drought, but a dry spell, your lucky. It must be very green where you live. Thankfully it,s green here now.................

regards Julie

sueann

1-3 months isn't a drought at all to us THN, just a little dry spell, as Julie says. Our last drought up here was around 3 years, everything was electrified, like the grass and the trees just crackled, ready to burst into flame, we had many bush fires. You daren't go deep in the bush as if fire started you probably wouldn't get out, fireballs that shoot into the air and start a fire elswhere around you would trap you, there were people burnt to death. Trees explode and the roar can deafen you.

Cattle were shot and the saleyards were full of beautiful horses being sold only to the doggers. Dead roos and lovely birds everywhere, the birds just fall out of the trees.

Our whole mountain was on fire at one stage and they were using helicopters to drop water, it was impressive to watch. Lots of really lovely heritage gardens died as you were not allowed to water gardens, plant nurseries shut down everywhere and landscaping companies went broke.

I was paying $50 for a bail of hay for the horses, that's when I could get it, my uncle drove his truck up to the Darling Downs outback Queensland to bring hay home, 2 days drive from here, and we treated it like gold.

Most days I would lead my horses down the long paddock, otherwise they would have not made it. There is no way you could ride them, as they needed to conserve energy, the long paddock is what we call it when you walk livestock down the grass alongside highways and roads.

When it finally rained we danced in it, was so good! everyone was happy as.
It's been good the last couple of years though, so hopefully we'll be safe for awhile.

Brent Ferris

I agree. A drought 2-3 years long is a terrible drought, and 10 years, unimaginable.
and I would dance in the rain after that long a time as well. In fact, i would prob want to live outside in the rain for many days. It is amazing Sueann you managed to keep your horses.

In that context 2-3 months is hardly worth noticing. But, it also sounds like -10 C is about the limit of cold for you, and we are graced with many months below 0 C, often below -10 C for the daytime high.

And in the context of that kind of drought tolerance, I doubt Tilia sp would survive. PErhaps Julie, if you made notes on which plants were -- really were -- drought tolerant, you could share them with others on the forum. It is not often -- thankfully -- you get the opportunity to observe the extremes to which some plants can survive, without our help.

Also makes you wonder how the wild animals and aboriginals survived -- that did survive.