Table of Contents
- Edible Uses of Basswood
- Medicinal Uses of Basswood
- Alternative Uses of “Linden Trees”
- Growing Tilia Americana
Basswood (Tilia americana) is also called bee-tree, lime-tree, and linden*. It’s an amazing woodcarving material, and those familiar with just that aspect might be surprised at basswood’s edible and medicinal qualities! Plus, bees! *It’s not the same tree as European Linden but the uses are mirrored.
Bee lovers, hear, hear – Basswood blooms are a bee’s paradise and at the start of summer you might be able to follow the buzzing to a mature basswood abloom in the woods.
Edible Uses of Basswood

The honey bees who flock to basswood produce some of the finest honey. But basswood is surprisingly edible itself. The cream colored blossoms are edible and you can dry them and steep in hot water for tea. Unopened flower buds are also edible, but you have to remove the numerous stems.
Young, unfurling basswood leaves can be used as a salad green.
The tips of young shoots and inner bark can be chewed raw or cooked, perhaps used to make a broth. The cambien layer tastes sweet and something like cucumber.
Basswood’s tiny nut is edible and tastes something like a sunflower seed. But the nutmeat is smaller than a pea and the shell is thick.
Medicinal Uses of Basswood
Basswood is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Integumentary
- Respiratory
Medicinal tags include Anti-inflammatory, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Mucilage, and Nervine. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes using a bark poultice or a boiled bark solution for burns.
The flowers, if you can get to them, make a soothing tea for coughs and colds. Alternatively, use the flowers in a hot bath. For your sore throat, the honey from basswood flowers may have an enhanced effect compared to other honey.
Alternative Uses of “Linden Trees”
Bass is a corruption of bast meaning, say, cordage. The inner bark is soaked to separate fibers to weave into ropes, nets, thread, twine, etc.
Its use in wood projects is vast and most woodcarvers will usually start out with it, due to how soft it is to carve.
The flowers are used in beauty products.
Basswood is a soil enhancer.
The trees tend to go hollow on the inside making a cozy home for wildlife.. even bees!:

Growing Tilia Americana
You know the he who plants a tree line, “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life”? Basswood is a good one to picture. It can take decades before it even flowers. But don’t let that stop you.
Stump sprouts transplant well and I find it to be a fertile tree. You’ll likely find basswood near sugar maple. Basswood lines the dirt roads around me and I see young trees left and right in the woods at the studio. Hopefully, there will still be bees decades from now when many of these young trees are finally flowering.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
#ads in References
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Every book I reference that is available on Amazon is linked to with an associates link.
REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: of Eastern and Central North America (The Sam Thayer’s Field Guides) Paperback – June 1, 2023 and this plant IS featured as one of the edible wild plants in this area. I highly recommend this guide for your bookshelves!
Tilia americana Linnaeus – Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts (Native American)
Forest Plants of Central Ontario
The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants
An Eclectic Guide to Trees East of the Rockies
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada
Stalking the Healthful Herbs (Field Guide Edition)
Indian Herbalogy of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses