ExploreTree

Silver Lime

Tilia tomentosa

The Silver Lime tree has heart-shaped leaves and produces sweet-smelling flowers in summer. It’s a lovely tree to sit under!

Habitat: Parks and gardens

Appearance

The Silver Lime has striking dark green, heart-shaped leaves with fuzzy, silvery-white undersides, making them shimmer in the wind. Its bark is grey, furrowed with age, and it often forms a distinctive dense, broadly conical to oval canopy, setting it apart visually.

KingdomPlantaePhylumStreptophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalvalesFamilyMalvaceaeGenusTilia

Silver Lime

Interesting facts

Ancient Romans believed the Silver Lime tree could ward off evil!

Bees love its sweet-smelling flowers, making delicious lime blossom honey!

Its silvery leaves shimmer in the breeze like a thousand tiny mirrors!

This tree is super tough, happy even in city pollution and drought!

Special abilities

Silver Lime has silvery leaf undersides that reflect sunlight, helping it stay cool and conserve water in hot, dry conditions.

Silver Lime's fragrant, nectar-rich flowers attract a flurry of bees and other insects, helping it reproduce effectively.

Silver Lime has high tolerance to urban pollution, drought, and heat, allowing it to thrive in city environments.

Measurements & details

Height: 20-35 m
Canopy Spread: 10-15 m
Is Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 50-100 cm
Lifespan: 100-200 years
Fruit Type: Nutlet
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar for honey

pollinates

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

gathers pollen and nectar

shelters

Great Tit

Parus major

builds nests in tree cavities

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Shade Tolerant

Discover plants that love to live in the shadows, growing beautifully and happily even in spots where the sun doesn't shine all day long.

Spring Blooming

Celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with these cheerful plants that burst into beautiful flowers as spring awakens the world.

Broadleaf Tree

Discover magnificent trees that have wide, flat leaves, unlike the needles of pine trees! These are often the trees that change colors beautifully in autumn.

Fragrant Flower

Discover flowers that release delightful scents into the air, enchanting our senses and attracting helpful insects. Take a moment to enjoy their sweet perfume!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!