It's been around my house for 13 years now and still looks fine. Lumber is produced in a range of thicknesses, specifications and grades, although volumes may be limited. The buds, like the twigs, can be green or red. American basswood occurs from the most northern to the most southern portions of the eastern United States and as far west as North Dakota. They can grow to 124 feet tall but are usually around 50 to 80 feet tall. Range I will be taking down a large linden/basswood tree, and would like to use some of the wood for either non-structural beams or a fireplace mantle. Bladder Infection, Cold, Cough, Diuretic, Fever, Headache, High blood pressure, Used as a sedative, Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making musical instruments. basswood was the long fiber that came from the tough inner bark. I made myself some raised panel wainscoting and window/door trim and stained it with Minwax cherry and coated with polyurethane. The American basswood can reach up to 130 feet height in the eastern states that has rich soil and more rainfall. You are correct that it is soft - think of it as pine and treat it as such. If it is large and clear, and you can store it for a long time until it dries, you can get good money from a university art dept or sculptor. The brownish-gray bark is perpendicularly, but not deeply, fissured. Basswood twigs grow in a zig-zag pattern and can be green, red, or brown in color. American basswood is … Trees can be used for warmth, hydration, food, tools, and self-defense. It was not unusual that we turned to the Basswood for utilitarian uses rather than food. Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide variety of chemical compounds that are used to perform very important biological functions. and most large manufactures dont use sapwood for decent guitars anyway. Commercially, it is used for pallet making and veneer - Basswood is commercially grown in the Great Lakes region in forestry plantings. The name basswood came from a use made by native Americans of using its fibrous, tough inner bark or "bast" for making cords, thongs and ropes. This got me to wondering - "What is basswood used for other than carving?" When I go there to buy my wood, there's always a whole pile of basswood to select from. Question Someone might wonder What is American Basswood or how it is useful? American basswood is economically important for timber, especially in the Great Lakes States [ 16 ]. The tree is also well known as a honey-tree, and the seeds and twigs are eaten by wildlife. Basswood (also known as American Linden) is often used as a specimen or dense shade tree. The inner bark, or bast, can be used as a source of fiber for making rope or for weaving such items as baskets and mats. Basswood is soft and light, valued for hand carving and has other uses including cooperage, boxes, veneer, excelsior, and pulp. The flowers are hardly noticeable, but, oh, that scent! In some cases, one part of the plant may be edible while another may be toxic. Trees can provide a survivor with elements from all four core survival priorities: Shelter, Water, Fire and Food. It’s crazy to think that one can use a tree to start a fire, take shelter under it, and then find themselves able to eat and drink from it. I meant from the same line dude, not that all basswood guitars will sound similar. Its heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers in June make it especially attractive for people, while songbirds and blue jays are attracted to its seeds and use the tree for shelter. American Basswood Benefits are: Humans are dependent on plants. Pioneers dubbed it "bastwood" leading to its common name of today. You’ll get some excellent shelter poles from the young, smaller sucker basswood trees that grow from the base since these sucker trees develop as straight, tall, flexible “branches.” So when you’re on the lookout for fallen branches, count on the sucker basswood trees and you’ll have a sh… The basswood is not a very strong wood and is therefore not perfectly suitable for securing a shelter, but it can definitely be a good substitute. Indeed, modern foragers may actually consume more of … WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE: American basswood wood is soft and light; it is valued for hand carving and has many other uses including cooperage, boxes, veneer, excelsior, and pulp [ 15, 16 ]. Various sources state that it was used to make tangle free rope, twine and thread, thongs, baskets, tumplines The basswood tree reaches a height of up to 120 feet. Beside beauty benefits and aesthetic uses, there are some additional uses of the plant, which can be beneficial to know and improve its usability. The species is known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, although its lack of density can make it susceptible to damage if placed under excessive weight. Directly or indirectly they are a major source of food for human beings as well as animals. Others may have but there is no record of it. These North American natives are related to European and Asian linden trees. Basswood / American Linden Tilia Americana. Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making musical instruments 1.3 Used As Indoor Plant 9% List of Trees Garden Plants have it ! Other uses of this plant are: Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties and Used in making musical instruments. But even if we know the uses of the plant, one should also know which part of the plant could be used. American basswood (Tilia americana), northernmost Tilia species, is a large, rapid-growing tree of eastern and central hardwood woodlands. American Basswood (Tilia americana) is known for the alluring scent and abundant nectar of its flowers, as well as its lightweight, odorless wood which lends itself to the production of food crates and boxes, musical instrument parts, yard sticks and cabinets. Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, Basswood is a little soft for use as trim, but excellent for carving. Beautiful and sturdy, its heart-shaped green leaves and pale yellow fragrant flowers in June make it especially attractive. I use basswood for carving and buy it from my local wood supplier. Where It Grows: American basswood is a popular urban tree and is plants in wide boulevards and parks in city landscapes. Well, you are at the right place to know the answer. American basswood is native to the Chicago area and is often used as a specimen or dense shade tree. Other names: Linden, American whitewood, American linn Distribution Eastern USA, principally the Northern and Lake States. American basswood (linden, Tilia Americana) is commonly used for Architecture models and carving. mature American basswood. An infusion has been taken to promote urination. I know it is very soft. Trees provide an immeasurable number of materials essential to survival, and studying the different species, as well as … The fibrous inner bark can be used to make large ropes, but it's rather weak as small diameter cordage. Even among the native Indians only one tribe — the Ojibwa — was known to eat parts of the Basswood. Basswood's color ranges from a pale off-white to pale yellow, to a very light muted brown. If you are looking at large, heart shaped, dark green leaves, chances are good that you’ve found an American basswood tree. Otherwise, it's soft and weak and I wouldn't use it anywhere that is subject to abuse or wear. You may have problems with fuzziness when cutting against the grain, but that is only with certain boards I have used and not everything. Propagated plants grow rapidly in a rich soil, but are susceptible to many pests. Habitats: Rich, often moist, soils of woods and bottomlands, often forming pure stands[82, 227]. Basswood, on the other hand, isn’t just known as “basswood.” It’s also goes by linden and American lime (even though it doesn’t produce limes), but it’s mostly called basswood. Tilia Heterophylla is another species which is native to southern Illinois. This ancient herbal knowledge is still being used by many doctors for curing health issues. And it’s tall. It is taken internally in the treatment of lung complaints, dysentery, heart burn and weak stomach. Basswood is an ideal wood for many woodcarvers. Long ago, when Allopathy was not a part of medical science, plants were the major source of medicine used for almost all types of health issues. Basswood is also a top choice for musical instruments, shutters, specialty products and millwork. If you are a passionate gardener, you should not only know how to take care of your plants but should also know their uses. It is fine for interior woodwork. American Basswood, Carolina basswood, Basswood, AmericanBasswood, American Linden: Family: Tiliaceae: USDA hardiness: 3-9: Known Hazards: Frequent consumption of the tea made from the flowers may cause heart damage[222]. The wood has a fine uniform texture and indistinct grain… Basswood is has a light, neutral-grained low-density wood - It is often used for turned objects such as bowls and carved wood art. American basswood has poor resistance to fire because of its thin bark. Native Americans used fresh basswood sap, which contains moderate amounts of sugar, as a watery drink or boiled it into syrup. While species from the Tilia genus are referred to as either "Lime" or "Linden" in Europe, in North America it?s commonly called "Basswood." I think you can make a fine product using the basswood. Its other common name is American Linden. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen in the air that is used by all living beings for breathing. The bark is diuretic. The cordate, serrate leaves are from 4-7 inches long have pointed tips and heart-shaped bases; clusters of yellow-white fragrant flowers (1/2 inch wide) with 5 sepalsand petals and numerous stamens cohering in groups, grow on long stalks from narrow bracts, appear in June and August; they are followed by small round nutlets. Basswood can grow in sites ranging from nutrient-poor, rocky ridges as high as 4,900 feet in elevation to well-drained low woodlands, growing best in hardwood hammocks and moist, well-drained, loamy (fine-textured) soils of river floodplains and wetland areas. Since the 1980’s, basswood gained popularity and for a time was probably the most used wood for locking tremolo guitars and paired with maple necks because of how well they cut through the mix. Pieces over 6" may be glued … Does anyone have any opinion on this? Uses The tree is stately … It is a native north American tree. It grows rapidly, is very large and needs plenty of space. The American basswood (Tilia americana) is the only member of the genus Tilia native to Iowa. Does this wood look nice stained? Medicinal use of American Basswood: A tea made from the inner bark is applied to burns - it soothes and softens the skin. 1.4 Used As Outdoor Plant If you are planning to have American Basswood in your garden, we provide you with all American Basswood uses and American Basswood Facts. Tilia Heterophylla is similar to American Basswood. Its soft, fine, even texture make it easy to work with, while its pale, inconspicuous color doesn’t detract from the carved patterns of the finished product (which also makes it easier to paint and color). The soft, light wood has many uses in wood products. From contributor A: The American basswood can be propagated by cuttings and grafting as well as by seed. (Architectural Woodworking Forum) A blooming, green garden in a veranda is not only refreshing, but gives a pleasant look to your house. Like balsa wood, basswood … The bark on an American basswood tree tends to be gray or brown with shallow, flat-topped ridges. soft and very easily workable type of wood that has managed to become a lumber of choice for many woodworkers who areinterested to quickly and easily produce lightweight wood products Many plants are used for medicinal purposes. Basswood is mostly used around here for carving. There are many plants which are used in multiple ways. March 18, 2006, KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: General. Basswood grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8 and is native to North America. Forum Responses Many ornamental plants also posses some medical benefits which we are unaware of. There are many more bush craft, survival, and every day uses for basswood. American basswood is an important timber tree, especially in the Great Lakes States. American basswood Tilia americana Other names: Linden Distribution & Availability Eastern USA, principally the Northern and Lake States, where there is reasonable availability as lumber and veneer. Uses can be of many types: aesthetic uses, beauty benefits, medicinal benefits, etc. Generally, the plants which posses some medicinal uses fall under List of Herbs. There are many American Basswood benefits and uses. Do you use basswood, and if so, what do you use it for? General description The sapwood of basswood is usually quite large and creamy white in colour, merging into the heartwood which is pale to reddish brown, sometimes with darker streaks. They also ate young basswood leaves and used the cambium for soups and breads. edt: Im speaking in generalities. American basswood is derived from the northernmost to the southernmost portions of the eastern United States and as far west as North Dakota. It … An RG made from asian basswood will still sound SIMILAR to an american basswood RG. They used the fibers for many of their needs: Bags, baskets, belts, fishnets, house mats, snowshoe netting, ropes, sewing thread and even suturing wounds. Various medicinal uses were made of leaf and bark extracts, and Iroquois used freshly cut bark as an emergency bandage for wounds. American Linden - Tilia americana Basswood Family (Tiliaceae) Introduction: This American native was used for centuries for its fibrous inner bark and fragrant flowers. The rope was once used for rigging on ships as the fibers were both long, abundant and strong when twisted into large diameter. American Basswood Fruits. It is commonly planted as a shade tree in urban areas of the eastern states. There can't be that many carvers in this area to buy all the basswood I see at my supplier. Basswood is a prized wood that is relatively soft, works exceptionally well when tooling and is valued for hand carving. The tree is often used as a hedge but only in large tree lawns. It bears unique flowers and large, heart-shaped leaves. It can be leaves, fruits, flowers, stem, seeds or the roots too. The fruits or seeds are about the size and shape of a pea and are com… Best growth is in the central part of the range on deep, moist soils; development is vigorous from sprouts as well as seed. Hence, you should know which part of the plant is used for a particular need. Therefore, it is very important to know the uses of plants. Still, it is good to know the medicinal uses of all plants in your garden, even if they are not a part of herbs. The Basswood exhibits an oval to round shape with smooth gray to brown bark when young. American Basswood medicinal uses are: Bladder Infection, Cold, Cough, Diuretic, Fever, Headache, High blood pressure and Used as a sedative. The soft, light wood has many uses as wood products. Part of American Basswood used are: Whole plant. The tree makes an excellent landscape planting with limited tolerance to urban conditions depending on the cultivar.