Large-leaved lime vs Silver lime

Large-leaved lime and Silver 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.

Large-leaved lime

Tilia platyphyllos 7 m × 4 m after 10 years

Large-leaved lime is a long-lived shade tree that grows very big and opens its strongly scented, bee-magnet flowers in early June, the first of the…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 30

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

Large-leaved lime grows faster than Silver lime.
Silver lime tolerates drought better than Large-leaved lime.
Silver lime needs less water than Large-leaved lime.

Which one to choose?

Large-leaved lime is the better choice if you want quick results.

Silver lime is the better choice if you cannot water regularly.

Watch out for

Large-leaved lime

In Central Europe this is a tree of cooler, more humid hill and mountain woods, so in hot, droughty lowland summers its leaves scorch, brown and fall early, and spider mites build up on it. For a dry, warm site silver lime is a better choice. Honeydew from lime aphids makes cars, paving and furniture underneath sticky, and sooty mould grows on the leaves; this species is less aphid-ridden than common lime but not free of it. It throws many shoots from the base of the trunk, which need removing every year. It dislikes paving, compacted soil and de-icing salt.

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	Large-leaved lime	Silver lime
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	20–40 m × 9–25 m	15–25 m × 9–20 m
Growth rate	Fast	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 -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium (uncertain)	High
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	June–July, yellow	June–July, yellow, white
Water need	Medium	Low
Drought tolerance	Medium	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
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. PLN 44	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

Want a more precise suggestion?

Describe the spot and what you are after in a few words, and the plant finder picks for your garden.

Open the plant finder

More comparisons

Large-leaved lime vs Small-leaved lime Silver lime vs Japanese pagoda tree Silver lime vs Small-leaved lime