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Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
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The American Linden (Tilia americana) is a native tree with edible leaves, flowers, sap, and inner bark.
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The American linden has finely serrated heart-shaped leaves. The flowers and seeds hang downward from elongated leafy bracts. The fragrant flowers bloom for about two weeks in the middle of the summer.
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American linden leaf buds can be harvested in spring. They taste similar to snap peas. Leaves can be harvested spring-fall and used as a lettuce substitute. Leaves are best picked in spring when they are young and tender.
Mature seeds can be roasted and ground for a coffee substitute.
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Flowers should be gathered right after they open. Flowers can be eaten raw or turned into a medicinal tea. Flowers have a floral taste with a hint of asparagus. Linden flower tea is said to be sedative and could be used to treat anxiety, colds, or the flu.
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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.