All plants /Tree /American Basswood
American Basswood
Tilia americana, mallow family. Uncommon in East Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Flowers for tea; tender young leaves
- How
- Flowers steeped; young leaves raw in salad
- When
- Late spring
- Where
- Rich East Texas woods
- Value
- Mild and sweet; a calming tea
Caution: Use fresh flowers for tea, not old browning ones. Young leaves are a mild salad green. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
Big heart-shaped leaves and fragrant pale flowers that hang from a strap-like bract. Also called linden.
Uses
Linden flower tea is a classic soothing brew, honey-sweet and floral; the tender spring leaves make a pleasant salad.
Photo: Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.