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Overview
Tilia cordata or the Small Leaved Lime is a deciduous tree from European woodland settings that grows to 20m or so in height with an attractive domed crown outline.
It has serrated edged, leathery leaves that are almost round apart from a pointed tip that are mid green on top and a lighter grey/green under along with a hairy coating.
The small pale yellow flowers appear in clusters, are very sweetly scented and turn to small brown nuts in autumn. Bees love Tilia due to the sweetness of the nectar in the flowers.
This is a handsome and elegant tree that goes particularly well in parks but also makes a fine specimen in larger, formal gardens where it doubles as a very useful shade tree to picnic under on warm days.
Soil: Limes or Lindens will grow is just about any type of soil but they do best in fertile, moist but well drained soils.
Chose a location sheltered from cold and drying winds.
Maintenance: Stake firmly and water often when first planted, decreasing over time as they become established.
They do not like competition from weeds, so a good cover of mulch will help.
It will tolerate some heavy pruning to keep it neat and dense.
It will also handle pollution quite well - hence its popularity as a street tree.
Diseases: Aphids can be a bother which produce a sticky honeydew that can be messy.
Leaf scorch can be a problem when planted on dry soils, but as they are deciduous its a short lived worry. Other pests can include Japanese beetles and lace bugs.
Other Species: 45 species in the genus of elegant and tall trees.
Tilia platyphyllos and Tilia cordata are the parents of the most common Lime/Linden Tree Tilia x europaea sometimes known as Tilia vulgaris.
Comments: The timber is relatively soft and is often used for carving or musical instruments.
Linden tea is a pleasant infusion drink made from the dried flowers of the Tilia and is laden with antioxidants. It also has anti inflammatory effects.
there is a veery famous 300 year old Linden at Schloss Linderhof in Bavaria, Germany - known as the Kings Linden Tree.
The Tilia has no connection whatsoever to the Citrus Lime tree - 'Lime' is a derivation or Anglisisation from Linden.
Author: Bob Saunders.