Tilia tomentosa

RHS Plant Profile
silver lime

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silver lime RHS
silver lime RHS
silver lime RHS

Other common names

European white lime, white lime

Synonyms

Tilia alba
Tilia argentea

Trees
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A large, broadly pyramidal deciduous tree to 30m in height. Erect branches are often pendent at their tips with white-felted shoots bearing rounded, sharply toothed leaves to 13cm long, dark green above, covered in a silvery-white felt beneath, turning yellow in autumn. Clusters of up to 10 very fragrant, small, white flowers, in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

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 Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–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
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
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
EC & SE 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. Usually free of aphids and therefore free of sticky honeydew. For more advice see tree cultivation

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Pruning group 1

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