- Valuable bee forage
- Structure of the linden blossom
- Linden species and their flowering time
- frequently asked Questions
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Lime trees are important foraging trees for bees, bumblebees and many other insects. Depending on the species, the flowering trees bloom between June and the beginning of August. Its flowers contain a lot of sugar-rich nectar.
In a nutshell
- around 40 different lime tree species worldwide, which are closely related and often crossbreed
- only small-leaved lime and small-leaved lime are native to Germany
- due to better resistance to drought and heat, other species are also planted
- Depending on the species, linden blossom lasts between June and the beginning of September
- all linden species are valuable for bees and insects, no poisonous species
Valuable bee forage
All Linden species are a valuable food source for nectar-gathering insects such as bees and bumblebees - which is especially true for the late-flowering Tilia varieties. In particular, old and large linden trees develop an immense number of flowers, which - depending on the water supply of the tree - contain a high sugar nectar. According to scientific studies, it consists of up to 80 percent sugar. Lime trees are such an important source of food for insects because there are only a few other plants left during their flowering period - bees and bumblebees depend on the nectar of the linden blossoms to survive.
small-leaved lime
Tip: Lime blossom honey is a sought-after specialty. It tastes aromatic and, due to the late flowering period of the linden trees, is the last type of honey that the bees produce in the year. Since there are only very few larger lime tree stands in forests in Germany and the trees are increasingly being planted as avenues and park trees instead, beekeepers primarily set up their beehives in cities to obtain these types of honey.
Bumblebees dying under linden trees?
A few years ago, the rumor spread that naturalized lime tree species such as the silver lime tree had a flower that was poisonous to bumblebees and bees. The reason for this assumption is the fact that from the middle to the end of July there are more dead bumblebees under late-flowering linden trees. But the death of the bumblebee is not due to an allegedly poisonous flower, but simply to the fact that the animals can no longer find sufficient food when the linden tree is in bloom and therefore starve. If there are no other plants for flowering apart from linden blossoms, the available food is not sufficient - which is the fatality of bumblebees, which ultimately do not build up stocks.
Tip: So that bees, bumblebees and butterflies can still find enough food in late summer, plant or sow late-blooming flowers, shrubs and shrubs in the garden. Species such as summer lilac (also butterfly bush, Buddleja), lavender and other flowering herbs, mallow, various coneflower species (Rudbeckia, Echinacea), clover, globe thistle, phacelia or ivy are particularly rich in nectar. A colorful flower meadow instead of a green lawn also helps to stem insect mortality.
Structure of the linden blossom
Blossoming linden trees exude an intense fragrance. The greenish-yellow linden blossoms are arranged as a cyme, in which the stalk grows together with the bract. The bract still fulfills an important function after the flowering period, it serves as a flight organ for the fruit and thus ensures that the linden seeds spread. The linden blossom is hermaphroditic and incompatible with itself, which is why the trees are absolutely dependent on insect pollination. The blossom
Source: Famartin, 2022-06-02 09 11 09 Flowers on a Linden tree along Kirkwell Place in the Chantilly Highlands section of Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- first goes through a male phase
- this is referred to as pre-masculinity
- nectar is already being produced during this period
- only then does the female phase follow
- The nectar content of the flowers increases
- the sugar content also rises sharply
The nectar, which is so important for bees and bumblebees, is located at the base of the sepals and contains only a small amount of pollen. After fertilization, nectar production stops.
Linden species and their flowering time
Only the small-leaved and small-leaved limes are native to Germany. These two species also make up the most common linden stands. There are also numerous hybrids and naturalized varieties that are often planted in parks and avenues because of their resistance to drought and heat. There are around 40 different types of linden trees, of which only about ten are cultivated in this country. The majority of the varieties are at home in Asian regions, especially in China and Japan.
Lime trees are often used as avenue or park trees.
The lime tree species cultivated in Germany all bloom at different times between June and the beginning of August. A species that we have rarely planted until now only flowers between mid-August and the beginning of September. The exact time of flowering depends on the weather conditions: Linden trees prefer warm, humid weather and will flower earlier than indicated if the conditions are right. Overall, the entire flowering period extends over a period of around six weeks.
Notice: The lime tree has always been considered a mythical and significant tree. In many places in Germany there is still a mighty village or dance linden tree, which is often many hundreds of years old and played an important role in public rallies, as a meeting place and as a place of court etc. in earlier times.
A to H
American Lime (Tilia americana)
The American linden tree is a very common deciduous tree between Canada and Mexico, but is also often used as a park and avenue tree in this country. The species is a valuable bee tree and flowers in July. Tilia caroliniana is a subspecies rarely planted in Europe (Tilia americana var. caroliniana)
Source: Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada, TiliaAmericana (7478 (2574235731), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
Weeping silver linden (Tilia petiolaris)
The silver linden tree is an attractive subspecies of the silver linden tree, but its flowering time is much later: depending on the weather, this linden tree blossom begins between mid-July and the beginning of August. The species is easy to identify by its strongly overhanging branches.
Henry's Lime (Tilia henryana)
A particularly late linden blossom can be admired with this species from China: Tilia henryana only blossoms between the beginning of August and mid-September. The species is a potentially valuable bee nutriment, but has so far only rarely been planted. It is very suitable for larger gardens as well as for urban areas.
Source: Salix, Tilia henryana-Jardin des Plantes 01, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Dutch lime (Tilia x europaea or vulgaris)
The Dutch lime is a hybrid of the small-leaved and small-leaved lime. It combines characteristics of both parent species and flowers just before the small-leaved lime between June and July. By the way, you can tell the three very similar varieties apart by the color of their leaves:
Source: Vatadoshu, Tilleul22, Edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
- Small-leaved lime: light green undersides of leaves, comparatively large leaves, leaf veins with yellowish hairs
- Small-leaved lime: blue-green undersides of the leaves, leaves are slightly smaller than those of the small-leaved lime
- Dutch lime: pale green undersides of leaves
K to M
Crimean lime (Tilia x Euchlora)
The Crimean linden is a hybrid of the small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata) and the Black Sea linden (Tilia dasystyla), which is not native to this country. At around 18 meters tall, it remains significantly smaller than the small-leaved lime and only flowers very late: at the end of July. This makes the Crimean linden tree an important tree for many insects, which at this point find little food. The hybrid is also a popular tree for city parks and avenues due to its resistance to drought and heat.
Source: Аимаина хикари, Tilia × Euchlora Syrets2, Edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
Imperial Lime (Tilia × europaea var. pallida)
The imperial linden is also a hybrid and is often planted in parks and as avenue tree because of its robustness and the fact that it is well suited as a trellis tree and for paved areas. It flowers quite early between June and July and, like all linden trees, is an important tree for bees and insects.
Source: H2OMy at German Wikipedia, Kaiserlinde 044, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
Moltke Lime (Tilia × moltkei)
The Moltke linden tree, which is rarely planted as an avenue and park tree because of its broad crown, is a variety of the American linden tree. The species is probably a cross between the American and the silver linden tree that originated in a Berlin tree nursery around 1880. The Moltke linden also flowers in July and is an extremely valuable tree for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
Source: Crusier, Tilia Moltkei, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
S to W
Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa)
Even before the very late-flowering Crimean lime, the silver lime, which is very popular as an ornamental tree, is in bloom. It flowers in July. The species is native to south-eastern Europe and has been increasingly planted in Germany since the 19th century. Silver lindens are considered to be extremely resilient to urban climates and resistant to exhaust fumes, dust, drought and heat. In addition, these late-blooming trees are valuable foraging plants for insects.
Source: AnRo0002, 20130830Tilia tomentosa1, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
Small-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos)
The earliest blooming linden species is the summer linden. The species, also known as large-leaved linden (Tilia grandifolia), has its flowering period in June.
Linden trees are generally easy to care for.
Notice: Probably the oldest tree in Germany is a summer linden. This stands as a village linden tree in Schenklengsfeld near Bad Hersfeld. Its age is estimated by various experts to be over 1000 years. It was probably planted as early as 760.
Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata)
The flowering of the small-leaved lime takes place a little later, between the end of June and mid-July. Small-leaved limes are - like summer limes - very rich in flowers. There are up to 60,000 individual flowers on a single tree.
As far as soil conditions are concerned, the linden turns out to be quite undemanding.
frequently asked Questions
Why are linden blossoms considered a natural remedy?The blossom of the summer linden in particular has been used in folk medicine and naturopathy for centuries. Linden blossom tea is said to help with colds, support expectoration and thus relieve the urge to cough. In addition, lime blossom tea is based and helps with stress and restlessness. A cup before bed helps you fall asleep.
When and how to collect linden flowers?It is best to collect the linden blossom - for example to make tea from it - just before it fades. On the one hand, this flower is an important source of food for many insects, on the other hand, the content of active ingredients is particularly high at this time. It is best to collect on a dry day, as early as possible in the morning.
Can you dry linden blossom yourself?Pick the linden blossoms together with the tightly attached bract, if possible on a dry day. You can spread them out to dry in a warm and dark place, but it is faster in the oven at 50 degrees Celsius. The flowers can also be dried well in the dehydrator. After drying, fill the rustling-dry flowers into a well-closable container, in which they can be kept for several months.
What is the name of the fruit of the linden tree?After the flowering period, the fruits of the lime tree are formed. These are small, spherical nuts that are usually brownish or greenish in color, depending on the type of linden tree. They're not poisonous, but they're not really edible either. In some regions, the spherical fruit is popularly known as the "nose sweeper".