Large-leaved lime vs Small-leaved lime

Large-leaved 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.

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

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 PLN 8

Key differences

Small-leaved lime grows larger: 8 m × 6 m after ten years, against 7 m × 4 m for Large-leaved lime (an estimate: sources differ).
Large-leaved lime grows faster than Small-leaved lime.
Large-leaved lime needs less care than Small-leaved lime.

Which one to choose?

Large-leaved lime is the better choice if space is tight, you want quick results or you have little time for care.

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.

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	Large-leaved lime	Small-leaved lime
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)	8 m × 6 m
Ultimate size	20–40 m × 9–25 m	15–30 m × 10–15 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 -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium (uncertain)	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	June–July, yellow	June–July, yellow, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	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. PLN 44	about PLN 20 (< 40 cm)

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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More comparisons

Large-leaved lime vs Silver lime Small-leaved lime vs Silver lime