Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

The common or European lime is a hybrid between Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos. In the past it has been called Tilia x vulgaris and also Tilia x intermedia. It is a common avenue tree in city streets and is the most frequently planted urban lime tree, although usually quite unsuitable for this location. It can reach 45m high and common limes in streets require continual pruning to keep them in bounds. In addition to the problem of size, the common lime is host to aphids which produce honeydew. This makes a sticky film on cars parked under the trees and on pavements. The common lime is also prone to growing a thicket of suckers from the base - in fact this is often the easiest way to recognise this hybrid species.