Tilia platyphyllos - Broad Leaved Lime

One of our rarest native limes, the broad or large leaved lime is fast growing, with beautiful luscious foliage, that turns an impressive lime-yellow in the Autumn. Resilient, adapting well to most soil conditions, it is tolerant of urban environments, although does better in rural settings. A British native it is widely planted throughout parks, estates and avenues in the UK. Tolerant to pruning or pollarding to maintain its shape, or left to grow wild to form a statuesque shape.

Site and soil

Any well-drained fertile soil in sun or shade. Cannot tolerate waterlogging for extended periods of time.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth (if not trimmed and pollarded), assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 8m x 5m
After 20 years: 15m x 12m

Leaf and bark

The large leaves are heart-shaped, with a hairy underside and typically 6 to 12cm long, turning a beautiful lime yellow in the Autumn. The stalks are also hairy. The bark is darker than small-leaved lime, and smooth to touch, developing cracks and flakes as the tree ages.

Flower, seed and fruit

The clustered flowers, are fragrant and attractive to bees. The fruits, which are also referred to as nutlets, are wind-dispersed and have a hairy exterior with distinct, deeply ribbed features.

Uses

Woodland, parks, gardens, avenues, street-side planting, pleached hedges. Like small leaved lime, the very light wood is valued for carving, because it is so easy to work. The wood is used today to make sounding boards and piano keys, as it doesn’t warp. The bark has been used to make matting, baskets and ropes. The flowers were used medicinally, and were considered effective treatment for insomnia, headaches and other ‘nervous’ disorders.

Wildlife

Very attractive to aphids and their predators, with their flowers providing nectar and pollen for insects, particularly bees, which also drink the aphid honeydew deposited on the leaves.