Tilia cordata is a stunning deciduous shade and street tree with a pyramidal shape in youth, gradually becoming more rounded with age. Its dark green, lopsided-heart-shaped leaves, up to 3", have a glossy finish. Its legendary tolerance for harsh soil conditions has made it a popular choice for landscaping. Native to Europe and western Asia, it boasts yellowish, fragrant flowers in June. It is tough and vigorous, can be pruned into a hedge, and is parent to many cultivars. The tree is celebrated for producing a chocolate substitute made from a paste of the ground-up flowers and immature fruit. Tilia cordata has a rich cultural significance and is the national tree of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
