Small Leaved Lime (Tilia cordata)

Small Leaved Lime (Tilia cordata)

More commonly found in the wild than Large Leaved Lime, in Neolithic times the Small Leaved Lime was about the most common tree in the country. When coppiced, leaving huge stools, lime trees can live to an extraordinary age - arguably at least 2,000 years. Fragrant lime flowers, produced in May/June, are a magnet for bees and butterflies, and its nectar makes lovely honey. The leaves are very palatable to a range of herbivores.

Tilia cordata likes a wide range of well drained soil types

Don't confuse the Small Leaved Lime with the Common Lime (Tilia x europaea) either, which is the much commoner and naturally recurring hybrid between the two native species.

Lime wood cuts beautifully, and has been used for carving since the Middle Ages. It doesn't warp either, and is still consequently used for sounding boards in pianos.

Like all the native trees we sell, our Tilia cordata are grown in the UK from UK origin seed. 

We also offer smaller cell grown plants, ideal for planting from March - May, after the traditional bare root season has ended. 

Suppliers: Exmoor Trees, RV Roger, British Hardwood Trees, Cheviot Trees. All these nurseries are Plant Healthy certified.

See our planting and size guide for details and tips on planting. These Small Leaved Lime trees are mostly bare root (see below), and are consequently available for delivery from November until March (please ask if you are interested in pot grown plants). During the lifting season there may be up to two weeks delay between placing the order and dispatching, due to weather conditions or pressure of orders, which are dealt with in date sequence. Orders for Tilia cordata placed between March and September are confirmed in September ready for dispatch from November.