{"slug":"tilia-cordata","scientific_name":"Tilia cordata","common_names":["Small-leaved lime","Small-leaved linden","Littleleaf linden"],"family":"Malvaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":25,"mature_spread_m":15,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":500,"hardiness_zones":[3,7],"sun":"full_partial","water":"medium","soil":"Moist but well-drained, nutrient-rich soils; tolerates clay and urban conditions","native_range":"Native across Europe from England and Spain to Scandinavia, Russia and western Siberia, south to Italy, the Balkans and the Caucasus.","description":"A stately tree of more than 20 m with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant yellow-green July flowers that hum with bees. Small-leaved lime is an indicator of ancient woodland in England and is long-lived, coppicing and pollarding well. Compact cultivars are among the most planted street and avenue trees in Britain and northern Europe.","care":"Plant bare-root in winter and water through the first two summers. Prune or pollard in winter; it tolerates hard cutting. Aphid honeydew drips onto cars beneath; nail gall mites disfigure leaves harmlessly. Occasional root rot, bleeding canker or wilt can be fatal.","benefits":["pollinators","shade","wildlife","long_lived","fall_color"],"uses":["street_tree","parks","yard_shade","hedgerow","timber"],"cautions":["heavy_litter"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Tilia-cordata2.JPG","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Tilia-cordata2.JPG (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/small-leaved-lime/","https://www.gbif.org/species/3152047","https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287364","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tilia-cordata/"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/tilia-cordata","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/tilia-cordata.md","regions":[{"country":"DE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3152047"},{"country":"FR","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3152047"},{"country":"GB","region":"ENG","locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native mainly in England and Wales; an ancient woodland indicator","source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/small-leaved-lime/"},{"country":"GB","region":"WLS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3152047"},{"country":"PL","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3152047"},{"country":"CA","region":"ON","locality":"Toronto","status":"recommended","note":"'Glenleven' littleleaf linden is on Toronto's list of species planted on streets (now usually classed as Tilia × flavescens).","source_url":"https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/trees/tree-planting/species-planted-on-streets/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"MA","locality":"Boston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Boston Urban Forestry Division recommended public street trees list","source_url":"https://www.boston.gov/urban-forestry-division"},{"country":"US","region":"NY","locality":"New York","status":"recommended","note":"On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List","source_url":"https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/species-list"},{"country":"US","region":"OR","locality":"Portland","status":"recommended","note":"'Greenspire' littleleaf linden is on Portland's list for 6.0 to 8.4 ft planting strips.","source_url":"https://www.portland.gov/trees/60-84-foot-wide-planting-spaces-without-high-voltage-power-lines"},{"country":"CA","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Widely planted in southern Canadian cities; USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in Canada.","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TICO2"},{"country":"IE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Not native to Ireland; widely planted","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3152047"},{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced; a common street tree in the Northeast, Midwest and Pacific Northwest, zones 3 to 7. USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced.","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/TICO2"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}