Largeleaf Linden Seeds (Tilia platyphyllos)
1.14 €
Elegant and stately when seen in a park or lining a boulevard, bigleaf linden is a versatile shade and specimen tree for spacious landscapes. A large deciduous tree from Europe where it is celebrated, it becomes an upright tree.
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Largeleaf Linden / Tilia platyphyllos
Elegant and stately when seen in a park or lining a boulevard, bigleaf linden is a versatile shade and specimen tree for spacious landscapes. A large deciduous tree from Europe where it is celebrated, it becomes an upright tree with a broad column-like stature.
Although called "bigleaf", the size of its leaves are only marginally larger than other lindens called "littleleaf". The bark is sandy brown to brown and is ridged and furrowed; the young twigs are red-brown and hairy, one of this species' distinguishing features.The dark green leaves are wide ovals that taper to a point. Glossy, the leaf edges are lined in tiny teeth. They occur on the haired sienna brown twigs. In midsummer, pendent clusters of fragrant off-white flowers occur, attracting nectar-seeking bees in profusion.
The ribbed, pea-sized, whitish tan fruits (nutlets) dangle downward and are showiest in late summer. In fall the foliage becomes yellow to yellow-green. Grow big leaved linden in full to partial sun in a fertile, deep, moist soil that ideally is neutral to alkaline in pH. This species is tolerant of acidy soils as well as air pollution and drought once established. It handles shearing well and can be used as a large estate hedgerow or wide boulevard allee. It is equally impressive as a park tree when its lowest branches remain and creates a massive gumdrop-shaped effect atop the lawn. Unfortunately, Japanese beetles enjoy lunch with this tree.
Linden Flower Tea Benefits for Colds and the Flu
Another common use for linden flower tea is during colds and flus. As a relaxing nervine and vasodilator it both releases tension in the musculature and aids circulation to the skin, helping to move heat out of the body. It’s specific for a higher fever accompanied by tension and restlessness.
It’s also used as a pectoral herb for use in catarrhal symptoms such as bronchitis, coughing, congestion, etc. Think of its soothing mucilaginous textures for sore and irritated throats. Some herbals refer to linden being used for people with asthma.
Linden Flower Tea Benefits for the Heart
These days I most often hear people speak of linden flower tea as a remedy for the heart, especially for hypertension. One way to understand how this works is by thinking of it as a relaxing nervine. Linden relaxes tense musculature, bringing relief and calmness. We know how it feels to walk around with our shoulders tense to our ears, jumpy and on edge. That alone can raise blood pressure! Perhaps because it is a relaxing nervine, or maybe because of more specific actions, linden is also a vasodilator, something that dilates blood vessels.
Linden Flower Tea Benefits for the Nervous System
As a relaxing nervine, linden flower tea soothes and calms the nervous system. It can be specific for anxiety that is accompanied by tension: tense shoulders, muscle cramping, tension headaches, painful menstrual cramps, etc. Also think of it for difficulty sleeping due to excessive tension. Historically, linden is listed for use during mild hysteria and even for epilepsy and convulsions. I don’t know of any herbalists currently using it in this way but looking at historical references can give us new resources and ideas to use herbs in ways that may have been lost to us.