American basswood (linden)
Tilia americana
A large native deciduous tree with broad heart-shaped leaves and fragrant pale flowers carried below a narrow leafy bract. It occurs in regional woods and plantings. Young leaves have documented culinary use in salads or greens; this profile focuses on leaves rather than medicinal flower tea.
Native range
Central and eastern North America, including southern Ontario.
Typical season
Tender newly expanded leaves are the food reference, usually during spring growth. This does not imply that mature leaves or flowers have the same use or timing. No validated local monthly picking window is assigned.
Identification
Check the toothed, often asymmetrically based leaves, flower or fruit clusters and attached strap-like bract together. Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata) and hybrids are different planted trees. Tender leaves differ from mature tough foliage. NC State cautions against overuse of flower tea; do not treat this as a medicine or damage a tree to harvest.