Japanese pagoda tree vs Silver lime

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

Japanese pagoda tree

Styphnolobium japonicum 6 m × 4 m after 10 years

A large shade tree with a rounded crown that flowers in the height of summer, when few other trees do, with creamy white, scented panicles that bees…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

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 PLN 33

Key differences

Silver lime needs less water than Japanese pagoda tree.
Silver lime also takes heavy clay, Japanese pagoda tree needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

Silver lime is the better choice if you cannot water regularly or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Japanese pagoda tree

The falling flowers, fleshy pods and leaves make a lot of litter and stain paving. The wood is brittle, so strong wind and heavy snow can break branches; train a sound branch structure while the tree is young. Shoots of young trees can be killed back in hard winters, and cankers may follow frost damage. It has no serious pests or diseases.

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.

The data side by side

Feature	Japanese pagoda tree	Silver lime
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	6 m × 4 m (uncertain)	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	12–23 m × 12–23 m	15–25 m × 9–20 m
Growth rate	Medium	Medium
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	High
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	July–August, white	June–July, yellow, white
Water need	Medium	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	1000 cm	1000 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Toxic	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data	approx. PLN 33

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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