Tilia cordata

Are you looking to introduce a substantial, reliable tree that offers both beauty and crucial support for local wildlife in your garden? Meet the Tilia cordata, commonly known as the Small-Leaved Lime, celebrated for its heart-shaped glossy foliage and its incredibly fragrant summer flowers.

This tree presents a wonderful seasonal journey, beginning with dense, dark green leaves that turn a soft yellow in autumn, complemented by clusters of cream or pale yellow flowers appearing throughout June and July which are wonderful for attracting abundant bees. Its growth habit is stately, developing a pyramidal to rounded crown with dense, spreading branches, maintaining an upright form even when mature. Although it does produce dry, nut-like drupes, viable fruit set is uncommon here in cooler UK summers.

For success in the British climate, this lime thrives best when planted in moist, fertile, well-drained loamy soils, although it offers tolerance for both clay and chalk conditions, preferring a spot in full sun or partial shade away from very windy exposed sites. This specimen is ideal for specimen planting or as a superb feature for creating excellent screening in larger gardens, making it a great choice for those seeking wildlife-friendly woodland areas. How will you incorporate this magnificent specimen into your landscape?