Linden Blossom
Tilia europaea
Family: Malvaceae · Also called Lime Blossom, Tilleul, Basswood, Tilia × vulgaris, Tilia × intermedia
Green & Fresh · Summer bloomer
Linden blossom isn't a garden flower but a tree's gift, the tiny, pale yellow flowers of the linden (lime) tree produce one of the most evocative scents of the European summer. When an avenue of lindens blooms in June, the honeyed fragrance is so pervasive it seems to slow time itself. Bees go mad for it, producing a prized single-origin honey.
conjugal love, justice, peace
In the Victorian language of flowers, linden blossom means “Conjugal love and peace”. Linden trees line the most famous boulevards of Europe, Unter den Linden in Berlin is named for them. In Germanic folklore, the linden was a sacred tree of lovers and the seat of community justice. Linden blossom tea (tilleul) is France's most popular herbal tea, drunk as a calming evening infusion.
Did You Know?
Linden honey is considered one of the finest monfloral honeys in the world, with a distinctive minty-green character. A single mature linden tree can produce enough nectar for 40 kg of honey in a good year. The wood is prized by carvers, Grinling Gibbons' masterpieces were carved in limewood.
Temperate forests and urban boulevards across Europe
Linden Blossom is native to Europe. It naturally grows in temperate forests and urban boulevards across europe.
Scent Profile
“A dreamy, honeyed green fragrance with citrus-herbal facets, the scent of European summer evenings, wafting from tree-lined boulevards.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameTilia europaea
- FamilyMalvaceae
- Native ToEurope
- Bloom SeasonSummer
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Linden trees line the most famous boulevards of Europe, Unter den Linden in Berlin is named for them. In Germanic folklore, the linden was a sacred tree of lovers and the seat of community justice. Linden blossom tea (tilleul) is France's most popular herbal tea, drunk as a calming evening infusion.