Tilia cordata

Common Name:
Small-leaved Lime

Description:
Tilia cordata, known as the Small-leaved Lime, is a stately deciduous tree renowned for its elegant form, heart-shaped foliage, and sweetly fragrant flowers. Native to Europe and Western Asia, it performs well in Melbourne’s temperate climate, making it a popular choice for avenues, parks, and large gardens. In summer, it produces clusters of creamy-yellow, perfumed flowers that are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. These flowers give way to small, nut-like fruits. The tree's dense canopy of lush green leaves turns a soft yellow in autumn, adding seasonal interest. Tilia cordata prefers a sunny position and moist, fertile, well-drained soil, although it is tolerant of a range of conditions once established, including urban pollution and some drought. Its symmetrical shape and tolerance to pruning make it suitable for both formal and informal landscapes.

Form:
Tree - Large

Mature Size:
Height: 15 – 25 m
Width: 10 – 15 m

Aspect:
Full Sun
Part Shade

Flowering:
Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
Creamy Yellow

Key Attributes:
Bee Attracting
Scented flowers
Suitable for Hedging (pleached or formal shapes)
Suitable for Espalier
Perennial
Tolerates Urban Conditions
Excellent Shade Tree

Toxicity:
Non-toxic to humans and animals

Companion Plants:
Quercus robur (English Oak)
Fagus sylvatica (European Beech)
Acer campestre (Field Maple)
Buxus sempervirens (for lower structure)
Liriope muscari (for underplanting)

For more information and photos of this species, Warners Nursery has detailed information available to the public here