JoJan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Small-leaved lime
Tree·Tilia cordata
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 3–8
Hardiness
Small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) is a tree. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs. It grows well with hazel, pedunculate oak and sessile oak.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruitingDying back
Works well with
from wiki dataWHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 6.5–7.5
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Prefers loam, clay soil
Tolerates some soil compaction
Draws up calcium, potassium, phosphorus from deep in the soil
Adds a lot of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives shade (dense)
Gives wind shelter (high)
Gives leaf litter (abundant)
Gives organic matter (high)
Gives pollinator services (high)
Gives nectar (abundant)
Gives pollen (abundant)
Gives habitat (high)
Provides calcium
Provides potassium
Provides phosphorus
Attracts pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Canopy tree
Height2000–3000 cm
Spacing1000 cm (min 800 cm)
Root depthDeep
Width1000–1500 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seed, grafting, layering, softwood cuttings
Difficulty
Establishes in about 3 yr
Self-seeds a little on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed4 Oct 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph JoJan · CC BY-SA 3.0