Plant Details

Tilia x europaea

Common Lime

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Tilia x europaea.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

7 names · 4 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Lime
  • Common linden[1]
Other languages (3)
Dutch
  • Europese linde
  • Gewone linde
  • Hollandse linde
French
  • Tilleul commun
German
  • Holländische Linde[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tilia × europaea L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Common linden (EN); Holländische Linde (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 163249; taxon 93LXC.

General information

Scientific name: Tilia x europaea
Accepted name (Kew): Tilia × europaea View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Malvaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Tilia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Common Lime

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 35.00 m
Spread: 15.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Leaves, Sap
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Charcoal, Fibre, Paper, Wood, Bee forage

Description

Young leaves can be eaten raw and are perfect for salads due to their mild flavor and soft texture. The flowers can be dried and then used to make a refreshing tea that has a delightful honey-like scent. Additionally, the flowers can also serve as a vegetable and even as a substitute for chocolate. Note: older flowers may be toxic, so do not use them. The sap of the plant can be used to make a delicious drink or syrup, which is often used as a sweetener.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 31/07

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Tilia × europaea L., name ID 2518295, row 258682
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 258797; name ID 2518358; Tilia L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tilia × europaea

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 3641974, ID 93LXC: Tilia × europaea L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .