Trees
Tilia tomentosa 'Sterling'
Sterling silver linden
Silver-gray leaf undersides flash in the breeze beneath a dark green canopy. Sterling develops a broad, symmetrical pyramid and provides yellow autumn color. Its fuzzy foliage is less attractive to Japanese beetles than that of many other lindens, though resistance is not immunity.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade
- Size
- Height: 45 ft. · Width: 35 ft.
- Water
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zone 4 minimum
Sizes & prices
- #15$224.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Landscape use & tree form
- Form
- Broadly pyramidal
- Use
- Shade tree; ornamental specimen
- Fruit / litter
- Small nutlets hang beneath papery bracts; flowers and leaves also fall.
- Growth rate
- Fast species-level rate
- Major issues
- Less susceptible to Japanese beetles than many lindens; aphids and sooty mold can still occur.
Resistance & tolerances
- Deer
- Not reliably deer resistant; young trees may be browsed.
- Drought
- Moderate species-level drought tolerance after establishment.
- Wet soil
- Requires moist but well-drained soil.
- Japanese beetles
- Fuzzy foliage helps resist feeding.
Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees
Seasonal interest
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Fall color
- Yellow
Growing & care
- Pruning
- Develop well-spaced scaffold limbs while young; remove basal sprouts and preserve the central framework.
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained loam; avoid compacted planting pits.
Sources & photo credits
University of Minnesota Extension
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / CC BY 3.0; resized and converted to WebP · CC BY 3.0
Image notes: Silver linden in full leaf. Species shown, not the Sterling cultivar. Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / CC BY 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP.
Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.