This basswood is located south of LeBaron Hall. The basswood is native from Canada to North Carolina, west to Oklahoma, Kansas and North Dakota. The only native linden in Iowa, it occurs throughout the state. It has a deep, wide-spreading root system and, although it prefers deep, moist, fertile soil, it will grow on drier, gravelly soils. Large size limits the use of this species in the landscape, although it is a fast-grower and a good shade tree.
Fragrant flowers attract bees and the nectar provides a distinctively-flavored honey.