American linden was cultivated in North America as early as 1752. The tree's flowers are attractive to bees and linden is an important source of excellent honey. Hollow linden trees found in the woods are often filled with honey. The attractive white wood of linden is often used for beehive honey frames. The fragrant flowers are also distilled for use in perfumes.

The tree's edible leaves have been used for livestock and human consumption and the fibrous, pliable inner bark (bast) was a significant source of fiber for ropes, cords, mats and nets used by Native Americans and early European settlers.Because it is a source of bast, the common name "basswood" is derived. Oil from the linden seed pod has been extracted and used as a substitute for olive oil.