Growth Rate

• The average linden tree grows 12 to 18 inches per year, much faster than most other northern hardwood trees. An average linden tree grown on the same site as a sugar maple and yellow birch may outgrow the others by 5 to 10 feet overall. Lindens are a long-lived tree that can thrive for more than 200 years.
  
  

Culture

• To grow well, linden trees need a spot that receives sun or partial shade and has deep, moist soil. The ideal soil's pH ranges from 4.5 to 7.5, although they prefer less acidity. The American linden is classified as a "nitrogen-demanding species" because it grows poorly on sites deficient in nitrogen. Linden trees thrive in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2 to 8.
  
  

Tolerance

• Because linden trees prefer a moist soil and humid summers, they are not very tolerant of drought. Too little water will lead to scorching at the leaf margins, although it will not permanently harm the tree. If there is a drought, mulch the tree 4 to 6 inches deep and water weekly. However, lindens cannot thrive in constantly wet soil.
  
  

Range

• Linden trees grow from southwestern New Brunswick and New England west through Quebec and Ontario, then south through the Dakotas, Oklahoma, northern Arkansas, western North Carolina and up through New Jersey. Linden trees grow best in areas with cold winters and warm summers. They often thrive on north- and east-facing slopes, along lakes and near major drainages.