The American Basswood likes moist soils.
Leaves are in two rows, are as nearly long as they are wide, about 3 to 6 inches in length. Technically, they are "ovate" or in more plain language they are rounded. Longer point at the tip. Sawtoothed edges. There is a main vein in the center of the leaf at the place of the stem of the leaf. There are secondary veins off the central vein that reach to the edge of the leaf. The leaves tend to be shiny and dark green above, while underneath it is light green and nearly hairless. The leaves turn yellow to brown in the autumn/fall.
Height can be from 60 to 100 feet with a diameter of 2 to 3 feet. It has a long trunk with a full, dense crown with mostly drooping branches. There may be two trunks off a central stump.
The bark is dark grey that is smooth but develops deep vertical furrows as it ages. Twigs are slightly reddish to green, hairless and slightly zigzag.
The fruit is as pictured above, 3/8 inch in diameter, elliptical or rounded, gray and covered with hair. There are two seeds, hard maturing in late summer and can remain into winter.
