How to Harvest Linden Flowers
The scent of linden flowers brings to mind outdoor markets in the French countryside of Provence. Popular for delicate, star-shaped blooms and strongly sweet perfume, linden flowers are easy to harvest and grow across much of the northern United States and Europe. Many communities plant these in public parks and along busy boulevards in order to draw the local population out to gather under its aromatic shade.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Garden shears
- Reusable shopping bag
- Spray bottle
- Distilled water
- Soft towel
- Zip-lock bag or other airtight container
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1
Visit the tree you would like to harvest from regularly beginning in May. Linden trees flower for only two weeks in May or June, so you will need to have a tree in mind and visit it regularly to be sure you don't miss the brief interval of time that blooms are available.
Linden flowers release most of their heat in the strong sun of the afternoon, so it is best to pick them early in the morning when the blooms are freshly opened and undamaged by the day.
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2
Pick the blooms by making your hand into a V-shape and gathering the blooms in your hand. Pull down carefully and mature blooms should fall into your other hand.
If you prefer not to use your hands, use garden shears to prune clusters of flowers off the tree.
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3
Keep collected flowers in a reusable shopping bag until you get home.
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4
Spray the flowers with distilled water when you get home. Spread them out on a soft towel. Refrigerate the blooms sealed in Zip-lock bags for up to five days.
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5
Dry blooms by laying them on a soft towel in a shady, well-ventilated place if preferred. Flowers can then be stored for several weeks in airtight containers. This could be done as an alternative to spritzing flowers with water and stored in the refrigerator.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Linden tea is a traditional Turkish treatment for cough. Pour boiling water over the dried flowers you have harvested along with a selection of apple peels and cinnamon sticks. Linden flower baths are used for treating insomnia and irregular sleep patterns.
