Linden tree named ‘Harvest Gold’

#The original tree of the present invention was discovered and selected while growing among open-pollinated Linden seedlings being grown at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The seeds used to produce the seedlings were obtained from an extremely hardy Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata female parent tree growing at the Morden Research Station, Manitoba, Canada, since about 1942 and were planted during 1980. The seed source for this parent tree (non-patented in the United States) had been obtained in Manchuria in the late 1930's by Dr. Frank Skinner and was considered to be a distinct form of Tilia cordata. The male parent of the new cultivar of the present invention is believed to have been a nearby Mongolian Linden Tilia mongolica (non-patented in the United States) since the characteristics of the new seedling included golden buds, exfoliating bark, thin leaves, and early fall leaf coloration.

#The outstanding qualities of the new cultivar were first observed during 1988. Since that time the new cultivar has been carefully preserved and studied. Had we not discovered and preserved the new cultivar of the present invention it would have been lost to mankind.

#It was found that the new Tilia cordata×Tilia mongolica Linden tree cultivar of the present invention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

#The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is resonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character typical trees, foliage and bark of the new cultivar. The trees were grown at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.

#FIG. 1 illustrates during the summer of 1994 the original tree of the new cultivar. The tree age was approximately 14 years, the height was approximately 28 feet, and the caliper was approximately 9 inches.

#FIG. 2 illustrate during the summer of 1996 a tree of the new culivar while budded on Tilia cordata rootstock. The tree was approximately 8 years of age, the height was approximately 18 feet, and the caliper was approximately 4 inches.

#The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common terms are to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description is based upon the growing of trees at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Both the original tree and progeny budded on Tilia cordata rootstock were observed and the description is based on such observations. No significant phenotypic differences have been observed between the original tree and the progeny budded on Tilia cordata rootstock.

#Botanical classification: Tilia cordata×Tilia mongolica, cv. ‘Harvest Gold’.

#Plant: