Tilia cordata

RHS Plant Profile

small-leaved lime

RHS 2002

Other common names

little-leaf linden

Synonyms

Tilia parvifolia

Trees

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
33 Suppliers

A broadly columnar, deciduous tree to about 25m tall, with a spreading or rounded crown, and glossy dark green, heart-shaped leaves to 8cm in length, turning yellow in autumn. Small, fragrant pale creamy-yellow flowers are borne in spreading clusters of up to 10 flowers in midsummer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Sand Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral or Acid

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Malvaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Tilia are deciduous trees with broadly ovate or heart-shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of fragrant yellow-green flowers, followed by conspicuous winged fruits
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, SW Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Suitable for parks and very large gardens. Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade, with shelter from cold winds. For more advice see tree cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, stratified in containers outdoors in spring. See propagate from seed (tree/shrub) Propagate by chip budding although care must be taken with the choice of rootstock

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1; a suitable tree for coppicing, pleaching and pollarding

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, horse chestnut scale, caterpillars, sawflies and gall mites

Diseases

May be susceptible to sooty mould, phytophthora root rot and honey fungus