Lime, common

A frequent tree in towns and parks, in fact it was so 'commonly' planted in the 17th century that this is how it's name came about!

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Lime
Generic name	Lime
Latin name	Tilia x europaea
Family name	Lime
Latin family name	Tiliaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	20-40m

Leaf

Description	Flimsy leaves with the undersides a shiny pale green
Shape	Heart/Triangular
Size	10 x 10cm
Colour	Dark green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Dull-yellow
Leaf bud	Looking a little like a boxing glove with one small red bud scale and one large red bud scale. They are also fringed with fine hairs
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Flowering season	July
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Green ripening to brown
Fruit season	Late-summer
Type of seed body	Fruit
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Pale grey-brown and irregularly ridged. Characteristic large burrs and covered in leaf shoots at the base of the tree
Twig Description	Slender and brown although they turn more red in the sun

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Large leaved lime - this has larger leaves which are softly furry Small leaved lime- this has smaller leaves and reddish tufts under the leaves at the vein joints

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Somewhat debated as it can be a natural hybrid or offspring of the large and small leaved limes. So would be native wherever these two trees are found. But many of the trees are a horticulturally cultivated tree which would technically be considered non-native
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Tolerates a wide variety of conditions. A very widely planted street, park and landscape tree
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

Like other limes the common lime can be coppiced and used as fuel, hop-poles, bean-sticks, cups, ladles, bowls and morris dancing sticks! However the most common use of this tree seems to be as an ornamental tree in large parks or estates. Avenues of lime are common and were widely planted. Other uses include the fibrous layer of under-bark called ‘bast’ which could be twisted into ropes or used to make sandals. The leaves were also useful as fodder for livestock and the very young leaves were a tasty sandwich filling! The blossom can also be used to make tea which was used during the war as a mild sedative. Even the small round fruits are just about edible and have a cocoa-like taste.

Tree lore and folklore

Limes are widely considered a female tree and have links to fertility. It is not really known how this came about but it is thought to date back to the Dark Ages. In France and Switzerland the lime is a symbol of liberty as collections of limes were planted to celebrate different battles which freed the countries from domination by others.

Very tall, abundant sprouts at base

Common lime leaves

Flower detail

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees