TREE OF THE MONTH
By Len Phillips , ASLA Emeritus
Trade Name: 'Summer Sprite' Littleleaf Linden Botanical Name: Tilia cordata 'Halka' Parentage: Seedling discovered at Halka Nursery, N.J. Family: Tiliaceae Patent: #10589 Year of Introduction: 1995 Height: 16 to 18 feet Spread: 8 to 10 feet Form: Dwarf narrow pyramidal shape, very dense branching Bloom Period: Late June to early July Flower: Yellowish, fragrant, pendulous Fruit: 1/3-inch nutlet Summer Foliage: Medium green Autumn Foliage: Yellow in the autumn Winter Color: Bark provides winter interest Bark: Gray to brown Habitat: Native to Europe Culture: Likes well-drained soil, any pH, full sun to partial shade, tolerates heat, drought, and air pollution Hardiness Zone*: 4 to 7 Growth Rate: Medium, full grown after 15 years Pest Resistance: Aphids and Japanese beetles Storm Resistance: Excellent Salt Resistance: Excellent Planting: Transplants easily bare root and B&B, quick recovery Pruning: Prune at planting and 3 years later to mature form, withstands severe pruning, may only require pruning of basal sprouts and removal of some potential crotch problems Propagating: Budded onto T. cordata understock Design Uses: Well suited for street tree planting Companions: Use with ground covers such as Vinca and Pachysandra
Other Comments: Desirable for the urban environment, dense Christmas tree form, suitable for CU-Structural Soil planting Available From: Difficult to find in retail nurseries, look in the largest wholesale nurseries.
* For information about the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, visit www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/index.html
26 Arbor Age / November/December 2011
These are the personal observations of the author, living in New England — Zone 5b. Len Phillips can be reached via e-mail at lenphillips@on-line-seminars.com.
www.arborage.com
All photos provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
