# 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!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Parks and gardens

![Silver Lime](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426279/objects/4888.jpg)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Streptophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malvales
- **Family:** Malvaceae
- **Genus:** Tilia

## 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

- **Shimmering Sun Shield:** Silver Lime has silvery leaf undersides that reflect sunlight, helping it stay cool and conserve water in hot, dry conditions.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Silver Lime's fragrant, nectar-rich flowers attract a flurry of bees and other insects, helping it reproduce effectively.
- **Urban Survivor:** Silver Lime has high tolerance to urban pollution, drought, and heat, allowing it to thrive in city environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-35 m
- **Spread:** 10-15 m
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Size:** 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
- **Shelter:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — builds nests in tree cavities

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Silver Lime?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Silver Lime?

20-35 m

### How wide does Silver Lime spread?

10-15 m

### Is Silver Lime edible?

Yes

### How big is Silver Lime?

50-100 cm

### How long does Silver Lime live?

100-200 years

### Where is Silver Lime usually found?

Parks and gardens

### What kind of fruit does Silver Lime produce?

Nutlet

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Silver Lime: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-lime)