Pollinator plant

Common Lime

Tilia x europaea

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

7 names · 4 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Lime[1]
  • Common linden[2]
Other languages (3)
Dutch
  • Europese linde
  • Gewone linde
  • Hollandse linde
French
  • Tilleul commun
German
  • Holländische Linde[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

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] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • common lime — Page 5, column 1, row top 307 pt; common-name cell after Tilia × europaea.; Tilia × europaea.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tilia × europaea ↗

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.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Tilia × europaea is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Malvaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Tilia × europaea in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Tree
Size
Large
Dimensions
35.00 m high × 15.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-9
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers, Leaves, Sap
Functions
Charcoal, Fibre, Paper, Timber, Pollinator plant
Edibility
5 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Tilia × europaea — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 3641974; ID 93LXC; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 3641974; ID 93LXC; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 1, entry Tilia × europaea (top 307 pt)

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Tilia × europaea — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 258682; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1004540, 1004541, 1004542, 1004543, 1004544, 1004545, 1004546, 1004547, 1004548, 1004549, 1004550, 1004551, 1004552, 1004555

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.