Silver lime vs Small-leaved lime

Silver lime and Small-leaved lime are often considered for the same spot in the garden (shade, specimen, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Silver lime

Tilia tomentosa 7 m × 4 m after 10 years

Silver lime is a large shade tree with a regular crown; its leaves are dark green above and felted silvery white beneath, so the canopy shimmers in…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 60,000

Small-leaved lime

Tilia cordata 8 m × 6 m after 10 years

A long-lived native shade tree with heart-shaped leaves that grows large. Its strongly scented flowers open in late June and early July and are…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 230

Key differences

Small-leaved lime grows larger: 8 m × 6 m after ten years, against 7 m × 4 m for Silver lime (an estimate: sources differ).
Silver lime copes better with summer heat than Small-leaved lime.
Silver lime tolerates drought better than Small-leaved lime.
Silver lime needs less water than Small-leaved lime.
Silver lime needs less care than Small-leaved lime.

Which one to choose?

Silver lime is the better choice if space is tight, the spot is hot and sunny, you cannot water regularly or you have little time for care.

Watch out for

Silver lime

It has no serious pest or disease. Thanks to its felted leaves it is far less troubled by aphids than other limes, so sticky honeydew is rarely a nuisance under it; in dry summers spider mites may appear and verticillium wilt is an occasional risk. Towards the end of flowering dazed or dead bumblebees are often found beneath it. This used to be blamed on toxic nectar, but studies have not confirmed that: the most likely cause is starvation, because nectar is scarce in late summer and the insects keep working the scented but already empty flowers. Having other late-flowering plants nearby helps.

Small-leaved lime

Aphids live on the foliage in summer and their honeydew drips as a sticky film on everything under the tree (cars, paving, garden furniture), followed by black sooty mould. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe, especially in paved, heat-reflecting settings, spider mites turn the foliage brown and cause early leaf drop, and leaf margins may scorch. Leaf spots, powdery mildew and, rarely, fatal verticillium wilt can occur. Young trees need watering in dry spells.

The data side by side

Feature	Silver lime	Small-leaved lime
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)	8 m × 6 m
Ultimate size	15–25 m × 9–20 m	15–30 m × 10–15 m
Growth rate	Medium	Medium
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	June–July, yellow, white	June–July, yellow, white
Water need	Low	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Medium
Planting distance	1000 cm	1000 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. CZK 60,000	approx. CZK 1,400

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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