Trees🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -25°C

Large-leaved Lime

Tilia platyphyllos

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Large-leaved Lime (*Tilia platyphyllos*) is a native, deciduous, and long-lived tree typically found in lime-rich deciduous forests, ravine forests, woodland edges, and on calcareous slopes. It develops a broad, upright crown. Its large, heart-shaped leaves are softly hairy on the underside and feature small white hair tufts in the vein axils—a key distinction from the Small-leaved Lime, which has smaller leaves with rust-brown tufts. In June and July, the tree produces pendulous clusters of two to five fragrant, yellowish-white flowers, which are rich in nectar and pollen and usually bloom earlier than those of the Small-leaved Lime. By September and October, the tree bears hard, distinctly ribbed nutlets that are wind-dispersed along with their wing-like bracts. Large-leaved Lime is well-suited for large gardens, estates, parks, avenues, food forests, and landscape plantings. It thrives in deep, nutrient-rich, humic, and moderately moist to moist soils, though it performs poorly in conditions of prolonged drought, soil compaction, or waterlogging.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
🌸Blooms
🐝Provides nectar
🍓Bears fruit
🍂Has autumn colour

Pruning period

✂️Best pruning period: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
✂️ Pruning period

Best pruning period

Once properly trained during its formative years, Large-leaved Lime requires little maintenance. During the winter dormancy, prune only to remove dead, damaged, crossing, or misplaced branches; avoid pruning during severe frost. Heavy pruning of mature trees should be avoided, as it can trigger vigorous epicormic growth (water sprouts) and result in the loss of valuable nesting hollows and habitats.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Sun, Half shade

Soil type: Clay, Loam, Humus-rich, Sand

Moisture need: Moderately moist, Moist

pH: Neutral (6.5–7.5), Chalky (>7.5), Slightly acidic (5.5–6.5)

Nutrient richness: Moderately nutrient-rich, Nutrient-rich

Humus content: Humus-rich, Moderately humus-rich

Water drainage: Moisture-retentive, Well draining

Appearance & season

Mature height: 2000-3500cm

Bloom: Jun

Autumn colour: The leaves turn yellow-green, yellow, or golden-yellow in October and November before falling. This autumn color is generally natural and subtle, and its duration may vary depending on weather conditions.

Properties

Salt sensitive: Yes

Edible: The young, tender leaves and fragrant flowers are edible. The leaves have a mild, green, and slightly mucilaginous taste, making them suitable for raw consumption in salads. The flowers offer a sweet, aromatic flavor and are primarily used fresh or dried for linden blossom tea.

Scent: Floral scent: Intensely sweet and honey-like. During warm, calm summer weather, the yellowish-white flowers release a prominent fragrance that attracts bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Ecological value

During its bloom, Large-leaved Lime serves as a vital food source for honey bees, wild bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, beetles, butterflies, and moths. The foliage supports the caterpillars of various species, including the lime hawk-moth, lime-speck pug, and various prominent moths. The tree also hosts aphids, gall mites, and bugs; their honeydew and presence attract ants, ladybirds, hoverfly larvae, and insectivorous birds. The nutlets provide a limited food source for birds and small mammals. Mature trees, with their broad crowns, fissured bark, and potential for hollows and deadwood, offer essential nesting sites and shelter for birds, bats, beetles, mosses, lichens, and fungi. By providing nectar, pollen, foliage, insects, and structural complexity, the species supports multiple levels of the food web.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsUseful

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesExtremely useful

🪰 HoverfliesVery useful

🦋 ButterfliesVery useful

🪲 Beetles & insectsExtremely useful

🐦 BirdsVery useful

🐿️ MammalsVery useful

🐞 Other animalsUseful

Large-leaved Lime combines a rich source of nectar and pollen with a crucial role as a host plant for caterpillars and other specialized insects. Aphids and their honeydew sustain ants, ladybirds, and hoverfly larvae, while caterpillars and other insects serve as prey for birds and bats. Although the nutlets have limited nutritional value, older specimens provide valuable nesting hollows, shelter, and habitats for numerous species.

Distribution in the Netherlands