American basswood occurs from the most northern to the most southern portions of the eastern United States, and as far west as North Dakota. Basswood can grow in sites ranging from nutrient-poor, rocky ridges as high as 4,900 feet in elevation to well-drained low woodlands. It grows best in hardwood hammocks and moist, well-drained, loamy (fine-textured) soils of river floodplains and wetland areas.