European basswood, European lime, Russian bast tree
Tilia × vulgaris
Tilia × intermedia
A large, deciduous tree reaching over 30m. The asymmetric heart-shaped leaves are green turning yellow in autumn. Highly fragrant flowers in summer are cream-green but scarcely visible. In the winter, the young, bare twigs are red-bronze
Higher than 12 metres
wider than 8 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
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. Highly prone to producing thickets of stems at the base (suckers) and burrs on the trunk. For more advice see tree cultivation
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 or propagate by suckers in winter
Pruning group 1; a suitable tree for pleaching and pollarding; remove suckers at the base of the trunk or burrs on the trunk in early spring
May be susceptible to aphids, horse chestnut scale, caterpillars, sawflies and gall mites
May be susceptible to sooty mould, Phytophthora root rot and honey fungus